The Delegate for Social Policies, Family, and Equality, José Fernández, has criticized the attitude of the President of Aena as «ruthless» for «using the most vulnerable» and has argued that the State does have jurisdiction in homelessness, as well as being responsible for asylum seekers, to demand the involvement of up to four ministries (Interior, Immigration, Social Rights, and Transport) to address the group of people living and sleeping in the facilities of the Madrid airport.
«Using the most vulnerable, such as homeless people, by the Spanish Government is ruthless, as evidenced today by the President of Aena,» condemned José Fernández in a statement. «Enough of politically manipulating the most vulnerable people. Not everything is permissible,» he emphasized.
Aena ‘hides’ the nearly 500 homeless people living in Barajas on the -1 floor of the airport
The President of Aena, Maurici Lucena, announced on Friday that the airport manager will send a formal request to the Madrid City Council «to fulfill its legal obligations as a responsible public administration» for the homeless community at the Madrid airport.
In this regard, Lucena stated that Aena «is obliged to use the mechanisms provided for in the administrative litigation law in the face of the inaction of the City Council,» which is «a result of dereliction of duties.»
Increased insecurity at Barajas airport due to homeless people spending the night there
If there is a change in attitude by the City Council, he indicated, they will continue to «collaborate as they have done with other airports facing similar situations.»
«PURE HYPOCRISY»
For Fernández, «pure hypocrisy is the action of the President of Aena and the Spanish Government, which once again demonstrates its inefficiency, particularly in this case along with the blackout.»
The municipal head of the social area described Lucena’s press conference as «unpresentable» because it was «full of falsehoods.»
The first falsehood, according to Fernández, is that «he referred to there being no jurisdiction by the General State Administration regarding homeless people» when «in the National Strategy for Fighting Homelessness, approved in 2023, the General State Administration is declared competent in matters of homelessness.»
«And it even states literally in that Strategy that they assume the highest level of responsibilities,» José Fernández pointed out.
Aena denies the presence of an insect infestation in Barajas’ T-4
Regarding asylum seekers and international protection, «the Spanish Constitution in Article 149 proclaims that it is the exclusive competence of the General State Administration.»
Another «falsehood» that the President of Aena allegedly made is «stating that filiation corresponded to the City Council and, specifically, to an entity, when in all technical meetings held by the Madrid City Council, it has been made clear that it is the airport’s responsibility for execution and in no case is it the responsibility of the Madrid City Council.»
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ASSISTED 94 PEOPLE
As the delegate recalled, the City Council «has had a presence at the airport throughout this time through the street teams of Samur Social.»
The City Council «has provided social care, as evidenced by the latest data from April, with assistance to 94 homeless individuals.»
«The question is how many people the Spanish Government has assisted at Barajas airport to date.
That’s why we have requested and will continue to request the involvement of four ministries that have not attended these four technical meetings,» he demanded.
Fernández stated that «using the most vulnerable by the Spanish Government is ruthless, as evidenced today by the President of Aena.»
In response, «the Madrid City Council will always seek the best solution for these individuals, as well as for the Madrid-Barajas airport itself,» the delegate pledged.
Deja una respuesta