Refugees

And, if I may say so, we must be aware that tomorrow it could be us. This is not an exaggeration. Unfortunately, we have too many experiences, very sad and tragic experiences that some are now manipulating in their discourse and in their political decisions, trying to maintain electoral advantage by stirring up fear and confrontation that had already been overcome. This is not a case that refers exclusively to Spain, where the spectre of the ultra-right has been awakened, as if the experiences of the ultra-left in government were not very negative. 

The construction of walls by those who arrogate to themselves the sole truth of a way of thinking in accordance with their electoral interests is causing a new confrontation and polarisation that reaches Spanish society, and has also infected different European countries, families and friends. The European Union has not been able to reach an agreement on a real and solvent policy on the challenge posed by refugees, on the one hand, and immigrants, on the other. We can make the distinction more political for refugees fleeing internal conflicts or persecution and repression for their ideas or approaches. And more social and labour-related for immigrants who are also seeking to save their lives and fleeing misery and poverty. 

The reality is that Europe has to give a clear, viable, solvent and realistic response to a phenomenon that has occurred throughout history in many regions of the world and that since the Syrian refugee crisis of 2015 has increased its influence and negative repercussions in many countries. The lack of solutions creates fear and uncertainty in some local sectors, fear of job loss, insecurity in the streets, the clash of cultures and religions, are arguments used and manipulated by far-right parties to grow and increase their representation and profits. 

Many European leaders in government encourage fear of the far right, claim the need to stop their electoral rise, demonise the vote of many thousands of people who, frustrated and fed up with the ineffectiveness of these rulers, choose more radical options. Of course, racist and xenophobic approaches that only seek personal and political gain must be prevented from achieving greater quotas in each of the countries. But the answer is not walls, it is consensus among the more centrist and moderate parties to apply solutions to problems. In this case to people, human beings, refugees or immigrants who deserve respect and a dignified life, but with a firm and viable regulation for their own safety and dignity and to eradicate the mafias that traffic in human beings.