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Defense Minister Margarita Robles, one of the four government authorities in the state of alarm, leads the Armed Forces in one of the most difficult moments in the history of Spain . The military deployment began from the same day that the confinement of the population was decreed and since then the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and the three armies have increasingly assumed responsibility for the containment of the coronavirus. Last Thursday, at the end of another long day, the minister granted this interview to EL MUNDO by video call.

What awaits this country when it is possible to control the coronavirus? What will the landscape be like after the battle? This country has demonstrated that it is capable of facing a situation as harsh as the pandemic with responsibility and solidarity. And that spirit that the Spanish have is going to make us overcome this crisis and face the future with hope. Were you wrong in not foreseeing its scope? There was a change of focus from one day to the next. From allowing 8-M and other mass events to having to close schools in Madrid and Vitoria, we have always followed the advice of experts. You cannot speak of lack of foresight because this refers to something that could have been predictable and it was not. We see it in the rest of the countries. It has been unpredictable, but there were international organizations that advised the collection of medical supplies. I insist that the evolution of this pandemic, which changes in 24 hours, was an impossible scenario to foresee from any point of view, even scientific. Faced with an impossible to foresee scenario, one cannot speak of lack of foresight. Has the Government suffered a reputation crisis for the purchase of defective tests in China? There has been a specific defective material that does not affect the rest of the actions. In an absolutely saturated market, with many difficulties to buy, I think it is a very minor fact. I also say: you have to accept that mistakes can be made, nothing happens. It is an unparalleled situation. As a member of the Government, I tell you that we try to do our best. Mistakes have been made, it does not hurt to admit it, but our effort is focused on saving lives. How do you live that Podemos, your coalition partner, constantly takes responsibility for the decisions on social measures of the Government? It is time to contribute all our granite sand, other considerations is not the occasion to make them. When everything is over, it will be when it is time to take stock. Are you surprised by the demand for the role of Pablo Iglesias? As the Minister of Defense, all I can do is convey my pride in the work of the Armed Forces. This is what I have to highlight as a member of the Government, my infinite gratitude. Then, each one within his area of ​​responsibility, will explain what he is doing. Do you think the debate on whether the PP or regions like Madrid dedicated few resources to Health is pertinent? It is time to work together and do our part to save lives. There will be time to take stock. We are writing a page of history, similar to a world war. It is time to add and not to divide. We must leave the criticism for another time. Can the Executive approve Budgets that the President has called for reconstruction? Spanish society is very responsible and will want to turn the page to regain the strength of the country. I am sure that all the opposition parties will have that sense of responsibility, but then we are facing a change in the architecture of the legislature, with the search for other parliamentary partners. Is it that someone can think that the world, Spain, the legislature will be the same? Can anyone think about it? With the thousands of deaths that there are, with the human drama that we are living? It is impossible. No one could have ever imagined this. When we succeed in ending the pandemic, the goal is to work with citizens in mind. The parameters we had are out of place. And not only in Spain, in the entire world. So, is the commitment to dialogue with the Catalan independentists parked? Once we manage to overcome this situation, we must work to raise this country. The Government's daily effort is focused on saving days. No one would forgive us for doing other calculations. Spending energy on other issues is something that citizens do not deserve. This is what Quim Torra does, you have been very critical of him. This is not the time for a confrontational policy. If someone tries to make political or territorial proposals, they are wrong. Can any government come out alive from a crisis of this magnitude? The day to day excludes any forecast in terms of political survival. You have to be very humble and work for citizens. Although the merit of this struggle belongs to Spanish society and the Government is immensely grateful to it, how can Spain overcome the economic crisis, which will also leave high levels of debt? The Spanish have demonstrated their ability to overcome, with that spirit of strength and overcoming we are going to achieve it. I also want to value the solidarity of many businessmen from this country, who are helping. The opposition assures that the state of alarm has been overcome and that we are in an undeclared state of emergency. I think that what is required of political leaders is try to add to save lives, see how you can help. There will be time to make another series of political considerations or debates. They regret that they are not informed of anything, that there is no communication with the Government. I understand political criticism, I admit it and I think it is good in democracy. But once done, what you have to do is add and push in the same direction, and you have been at the forefront of the largest military deployment in the recent history of Spain. How many troops do we have deployed in Operation Balmis? The Armed Forces, all their armies, from the beginning offered their collaboration with absolute generosity and efficiency. We have the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid and the Military Hospital in Zaragoza, to whom I thank their work, to all the health personnel and to the military doctors, who are doing a magnificent job. There are already around 7,000 men and women on the streets doing everything: disinfecting nursing homes, they have done so in more than 2,000; build field hospitals, there are already 16; supply transportation tasks; travel in record time to China for medical supplies; transfers of patients; collection of corpses; nuclear power plant surveillance; at the borders; transfer of a boat to Melilla. A page of the History of Spain is being written and the Armed Forces have an essential role. Has the myth that Spanish society views the military with suspicion been ended? They are men and women working with delivery, where nobody arrives. In the most difficult places. That the citizens have to value. Have they had difficulties deploying in the Basque Country and Catalonia? Initially neither Iñigo Urkullu nor Quim Torra viewed him with good eyes and put sticks on the wheels. From the beginning we said that the Army would go where necessary. And it has. This weekend 84 residences in Catalonia have been disinfected. It is not a problem of territories, it is a problem of people. The UME had to return when they were going to disinfect the Bilbao airport. Was it under pressure from the nationalists? That was a purely technical matter. We decided that at that time it was more a priority to go to a hospital, because there were sick people there. The establishment of patrols with the Civil Guard has raised certain suspicions in the Armed Institute. I am not aware of tension with the Civil Guard. We are dividing the work. How would you describe the connection between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior during this crisis? Do you think that the relations between the armies and the Civil Guard and the National Police can be improved? This is not the time for the competition, but rather to add, and we are all adding up, Spanish citizens, doctors, health workers ... Are you planning to withdraw from international missions for the next few weeks due to the risk of soldiers suffering infections? Half of the Iraqi squad is back, right? In principle there is no forecast of it. But we are going to see how the events go in the places where we are in international mission. What we have done is a withdrawal into Iraq. The State Attorney General's Office opened proceedings on the care in the nursing homes due to the alert raised by Defense. Yes. The competent prosecutors are already investigating. The coronavirus has highlighted something that is very important: the situation of residences in Spain. When this is over we will have to reflect and change completely. One of the obsessions of this Government has been to protect the most vulnerable and that is why we have focused and are disinfecting residences, because, although it is a competence of the autonomous communities, we cannot leave the elderly alone at this time. So it hasn't been a very localized thing? The death toll in residences is there. So I think it is one of the great reflections that this country has to do for the future. It is a general debate because I think that the residential workers make a great effort, with great dedication. But we will have to do that debate in the future.

Margarita Robles, in her office ANTONIO HEREDIA

"Each minister plays a role in the crisis, there is not one left"

Question.- Do we now have to have an Executive with 22 portfolios? Are not half the ministers left over?

Answer.- I do not agree. The Ministry of Industry is playing an essential role. In Education, the online organization of courses is key. What am I going to tell you about Universities. Justice will have a stage of litigation when this ends. Nor do I say Foreign, with attention to the Spanish who are outside our borders. And I would quote them one by one. I think everyone plays a role and we all have to do it with the greatest humility.

Q.- How are you? Because the coronavirus seems to have La Moncloa fenced

R.- I'm fine. But you know how this is, today you can be well and in two hours you can start to feel bad and test positive. That is why it is so important to stop this contagion.

Q. - The military are always preparing plans. Did they have something similar to Operation Balmis on the table? A plan to deal with a health emergency of this level?

A.- What has happened with the coronavirus could not be predicted by anyone. That said, the Armed Forces have a culture and planning that makes their ability to react faster in a situation as difficult as this.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Spain
  • Margaret Robles
  • Civil Guard
  • Quim Torra
  • Iraq
  • China
  • National Police
  • We can
  • Pablo Iglesias
  • PP
  • Inigo Urkullu
  • Coronavirus
  • Covid 19

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