Felipe González: "Trump will only respect those who demand respect."

PalmFormer Spanish President Felipe González participated this Thursday in Palma de Mallorca in an event to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of Spain's accession to the European Community. "Instead of commemorating the 50th anniversary of Franco's death, I prefer to celebrate our entry into the European Community," the Socialist leader asserted, avoiding open criticism of Pedro Sánchez's government, from whom he has distanced himself for years. On this occasion, the former president focused his attacks on the President of the United States, Donald Trump. "Trump will respect no one except those who command respect, even with difficulty," he warned. "He will trample on those who will not."

At the event, organized by the Government and the European Movement at the Auditorium, González denounced the current existence of figures as "arbitrary and abusive towards Europe as Donald Trump", "Xi Jinping's China" and "[Vladimir] Putin and Putin's children", whom he accused of making Ukraine Poly".

Increase defense spending

Regarding the tensions between the Spanish government and Trump, who is demanding that Spain (and the EU) increase defense spending, González said he is "in favor" of increasing it, "but not by an arbitrary amount." "What we spend is not enough, but above all, it's how we spend it," he continued. Similarly, he said that Spain's case makes him laugh because "we don't have an approved budget." "I support it, I want to know where the money came from," he insisted.

"What's happening in Gaza is ethnic cleansing."

González also addressed Israel's attacks on the Palestinian population. "What's happening in Gaza is ethnic cleansing," he declared, and called for a more decisive response from Europe. However, questions were raised about why Hamas "doesn't release the hostages." "Do you want to completely drive Benjamin Netanyahu crazy? Fine, release the hostages," he emphasized, and considered that recognition of the Palestinian state has "a symbolic significance."

Miquel Roca, lawyer, former MP, and constitutional rapporteur, accompanied González at the event, where he claimed that Spain's accession to the European Community represented an endorsement of the Transition. "Europe saying 'they're like us' validated our process," he explained. In this regard, he called for greater Spanish involvement in the EU: "It's no longer membership, it's our project. We must burn ourselves out." The Prime Minister, Marga Prohens, concluded the event and joined Roca in demanding that "Europeanists raise their voices" to assert the "uniqueness of their regions." Leading representatives from the Government, Palma City Council, and the PSIB attended the meeting.