Second Vice-President of Spanish Government, Labor Minister expresses support for Western Sahara cause, slams Pedro Sanchez’s U-turn
By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– The Second Vice-President of the Spanish Government and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Diaz, expressed her support for the cause of the Saharawi people, contradicting the position of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco, reported Spanish Newspaper El Dia.
Yolanda Diaz, who participated, Saturday in an event in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), assured that “two minutes after the announcement of the unilateral and unlooked-for reversal of Pedro Sanchez’s position in favor of the (Moroccan) plan in Western Sahara, the U-turn was categorically refused”.
Yolanda Diaz declared that at the time she totally disassociated herself from the position of her superior, stressing that “the position of Spain vis-à-vis this cause should emanate from a national dialogue, while taking into account the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination, guaranteed by the international law.
Noting that the Spanish political class was indignant at the reversal of Pedro Sanchez’s position on the conflict in Western Sahara, dubbing it as “scandalous” and “contrary” to Spain’s historical position in favor of the international law.
For its part, the Canary Coalition party stressed, this week, support for the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination and independence, reaffirming its commitment to continue to defend the just Saharawi cause.
At an election rally in the Canary Islands, the party representatives stressed the “need to allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination and independence”.
The political party, running for regional and general elections, promised to “continue to defend the just cause of the Sahrawi people, denounce all suspicious measures taken by the Spanish government (towards the issue) and support the efforts of Spanish partners willing to accompany international legality and international law.
The party also recalled the historical responsibility of Spain towards the cause of Western Sahara, slamming the initiation of suspicious talks, contrary to international legality”.
The political party also encouraged Spain to “play its role appropriately based on the historical and political point of view, away from betrayal and exploitation of the Sahrawi cause, since the bargaining of this decolonization issue would only be a moral scandal that history will not tolerate”.
Succumbing to pressure and blackmail from the Moroccan regime, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on March 18, 2022, his support for the sinister Moroccan “autonomy plan” for the Western Sahara, which offers limited self-government for the Saharawi people within Rabat’s sovereignty.
The announcement marked an unprecedented move in Madrid’s long-standing neutrality towards its former colony.
