Pilar Alegría: “Political polarization in Spain is asymmetrical”

Rosa Marquez of the Order

Pilar Alegría arrived at the URJC surrounded by the press and acknowledged that Tuesdays are always a complicated day for her, “because the Council of Ministers meets and the speed of the news sometimes does not leave time for thoughtful and calm debates, like the one that We are going to have here today, that is why I am grateful that they invite me to these types of forums.” Her visit to the university also coincided with the meeting between PP and PSOE to agree on the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary and she was very satisfied when, after her intervention, she received the news of the agreement. “This legislature has been marked by electoral processes and this makes it very difficult to confront issues with other parties, since, when the country enters the campaign, everything changes.” Her joy pointed to the need to reach more consensus with those who think differently, since that is the mandate of citizens. “Sometimes we have a very limited vision of the M-40 inwards, but the territorial reality is different and very plural. I am from Zaragoza and in Aragon there have never been absolute majorities and there have been coalitions.” Regarding the polarization that Spain is experiencing, she wanted to make it clear that it is asymmetrical. “We are not all in the same bag. The arrival of some political forces, which defend values ​​contrary to democracy, has made us experience unspeakable moments,” and he made reference to the siege of the PSOE headquarters in Ferraz, “where we continue to receive protesters with pre-constitutional flags every night.”  

Question Time

Alegría preferred not to extend his presentation in order to leave time for questions from the audience, mostly Journalism students. The financing of Catalonia or the Amnesty law have been some of the questions that have been asked. The minister has acknowledged that the amnesty was not on the Government's roadmap, but she has denied that the law was a consequence of electoral blackmail. "When the legislature opens, the deputies raise it and we decide to take the step to normalize relations with Catalonia, but always within constitutionality." Alegría has been surprised and happy “to see that the youth is still up to date with current politics” and she has left with a very positive vision of the university due to the high participation of the students in the course.

The president of the Senate, Pedro Rollán, the president of Congress, Francina Armengol and the spokespersons of the main parliamentary groups also attended the seminar, which this year celebrates its fifteenth edition.