The four left-wing parties in the Aragonese parliament (PSOE, CHA, Podemos, and IU) and the Aragón-Teruel Existe party have come together to demand that Jorge Azcón dismiss his Vice President, Alejandro Nolasco. They believe it is concerning that hate speech is being normalized, as stated by PSOE spokesperson Mayte Pérez. CHA’s José Luis Soro views it as a democratic anomaly for Vox to use the Aragonese Government as a platform for their hate speech. Teruel-Aragón Existe’s Joaquín Moreno emphasizes the importance of coexistence, integration, and respect for freedom. Podemos’ Andoni Corrales expresses shame over the Vice President’s statements and the President of Aragon’s silence on a matter damaging the region’s image. IU’s Álvaro Sanz stresses the urgency of stopping the normalization of such discourses.
Over the past two months, Vice President Nolasco has been involved in several controversial actions. On March 13, he tore up a leaflet on Ramadan outside the Parliament building in Huesca. He visited the Zuera prison on February 20 to link immigration and crime. On January 25, he called for the expulsion of non-minor migrants from the country outside a refuge in Zaragoza. Nolasco responded to calls for his dismissal by labeling it a campaign of harassment and asserting his contentment that opposition parties are demanding his removal. He suggested that Vox is the only true opposition, despite being in a coalition government with the PP. Nolasco hinted at forthcoming explanations for the campaign against him, emphasizing that he speaks as a Vox representative and Vice President concurrently.
President Azcón criticized the left-wing parties for obsessing over Vox rather than addressing Aragonese issues. He acknowledged the significant disagreement on immigration within the government coalition but questioned how many ministers Lambán dismissed during similar circumstances. Azcón highlighted the perception of a double standard regarding disagreements within left and center-right governments. The left sees it as pluralism, while it is perceived as a crisis in center-right administrations. The potential appearance of Azcón before the parliament to address Nolasco’s statements is uncertain due to PP and Vox’s majority in the legislative bodies deciding on the session agenda.
In the Aragonese parliament, eight parties are represented, with five calling for Nolasco’s dismissal. However, the government’s partners, PP and Vox, reject the demand. The PAR party, not part of Azcón’s government but with influential roles, condemns Nolasco’s statements and will offer their perspective during the legislative session. The controversy surrounding Nolasco’s statements continues to generate division and debate within the Aragonese political landscape, with diverse opinions on the appropriate response to his actions. The calls for accountability and reflection on hate speech and integration remain central themes in the ongoing dialogue among the various political factions and stakeholders in the region.
