Spain: Parliamentarian Insults Millions of Unemployed People
This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.
During a meeting of congressional representatives on Wednesday, July 12, Spanish President Mariano Rajoy announced some of the harshest social cuts in the history of the Spanish democracy. Aiming to comply with the demands of the European Union, the IMF (International Monetary Fund), the BCE (Central European Bank), and the deficit, Rajoy's government has adopted measures that will neither resolve the country's largest problem — unemployment — nor the economic crisis.
Once the Prime Minister finished his speech, the members of his political party (Partido Popular-PP) began applauding the measures, this being a clear symptom of breaking the social pact between the political caste and the rest of the population. After, Rajoy finished his speech suggesting cuts to unemployment benefits for Spanish citizens with the following phrase:
Se va a proceder a una revisión del modelo de prestaciones por desempleo garantizando que estas no generen efectos desincentivadores en la búsqueda de empleo siguiendo el ejemplo de algunos países de la Unión Europea
Amidst the applause, the Parliamentarian Andrea Fabra, yelled “Fuck them” [es], insulting millions of unemployed individuals in Spain as well as the rest of the political members attending the meeting, such as citizen representatives, with a gesture that crossed the line.
Image comparing the Italian minister (left) and the representatives of the Spanish government (right) upon hearing the announcement on cuts to unemployment benefits.
In a blog entitled Moe and Triana's “blo” [es], the author commented:
Andrea Fabra es militante del PP (Partido Popular) desde 1990, cuando entró a formar parte de Nuevas Generaciones. En el año 2000 con su progenitor (Carlos Fabra) a la cabeza pasa a ocupar una silla en la ejecutiva provincial del PP de Castellón. Se encuentra imputada en uno de los procesos judiciales abierto a su padre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDFgr5bQWyo
@alexizag: El “que se jodan” de Andrea Fabra es el verdadero programa del PP. Al menos es sincera.
@iescolar: No confíen en que AndreaFabra dimita. Cosas bastante peores le toleran en el PP a su padre. http://kcy.me/6az9
@iescolar: Don't think that Andrea Fabra will resign. They tolerated much worse things while her father was in the PP. http://kcy.me/6az9 [es]
@hablandorepubli: Nos sumamos a#AndreaFabraHijaDePuta. Al anunciar los recortes en desempleo, grita “Eso, ¡que se jodan!”.
@hablandorepubli: We're joining team #AndreaFabraIsABitch [es]. Upon hearing the announcement about cuts to unemployment benefits, she yelled “Yes, fuck them!”
@a_lo_gonzo: Lo que hay que reconocerle a AndreaFabra es el resumir en tan pocas y conocidas palabras la política económica del Gobierno.
@javier_parra: ¿Para cuando la ilegalización del PP por terrorismo económico? Andrea Fabra y los#DiputadosDelPPAplaudiendo, apología de la violencia
@TRADMONTANA: Estoy indignado, q clase política hay#diputadosdelPPaplaudiendo a 1 medida muy dura para los desfavorecidos y 1 diputada gritando#quesejodan
No va a abandonar su escaño. Por mucho que lo exija el PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español), Andrea Fabra no piensa dimitir. Y en el PP creen que no tiene que hacerlo porque lo ocurrido forma parte de la “bronca parlamentaria”.
- Benefits to help the unemployed for an extended period of time (they are covered for two years, but after six months the regulatory base will be reduced from 60% to 50%)
- 20% reduction in the number of city councillors
- VAT increase from 18% to 21%
- Early retirement will be under review
- Tax deductions for the purchase of a home are eliminated
- Government employees will have less days off and an extra month's pay remains to be seen
- 20% will be taken out of paychecks for political parties and labor unions
- There will be a review of the unemployment benefits model
This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.
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