In a display of disconnection from the reality facing the nation, President socialist Pedro Sánchez has decided to leave his agenda blank for four weeks. While Spanish forests are suffering one of the worst environmental crises in recent years, the leader of the PSOE will not resume his official activities until August 25, after a final Council of Ministers that highlights the fragility of a Government unable to fulfill its own legislative promises before the summer break.
While thousands of citizens see their homes threatened by fire, Pedro Sánchez and Begoña Gómez have traveled to the island of Lanzarote to enjoy an exclusive offer that prioritizes privacy over traditional mass tourism.
The president surrounds himself with sophisticated experiences in areas like Puerto Calero, an elite marina famous for its yachts, select shops, and tranquil atmosphere, in addition to staying in high-end accommodations integrated into the volcanic landscape that guarantee a leisurely tourism experience, far from the chaos prevailing on the peninsula.
The negligence of the socialist Executive is not only aesthetic but also budgetary and lethal. According to data from the AIReF observatory, Sánchez's Government has only spent 26% of the 401 million euros of EU Funds specifically allocated for fire prevention and forest management.
From that vital allocation to protect Spain's natural heritage, only 105.7 million had been disbursed by July, despite the fact that the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) itself acknowledges that Spain is one of the countries most exposed to high temperatures and large fires.
Even the limited investment executed is under suspicion: the opposition claims that 61.6 million of the funds already invested have actually been managed by the autonomous communities, responsible for purchasing 128 vehicles to combat the flames, which leaves the direct management of Minister Sara Aagesen in an even more precarious position.
Sánchez's retreat comes after a resounding political failure: the withdrawal of the housing decree, which the Executive intended to use as a closing act for the term. The measure, which included the freezing of rents for a period of two years, collapsed due to the lack of parliamentary support and the contradictory demands of its partners.
