The debate over the use of resources to fight fires in Spain has intensified. Miguel Tellado, Secretary General of the Partido Popular (PP), has criticized the government of Pedro Sánchez for its handling of the more than 40 forest fires that broke out simultaneously. Tellado claimed that the autonomous communities governed by the PP had mobilized more emergency personnel than the state itself.
In a social media post, Tellado emphasized that the PP communities have deployed 23,718 emergency personnel compared to the state’s 11,853. He called for bipartisan cooperation to assist affected citizens and improve administrative coordination.
Spain: Forest fire fighting and political debates
At the same time, Defense Minister Margarita Robles criticized the PP communities for their alleged failure to prepare and delayed requests for military support. In a Senate debate, Robles emphasized that the communities alone were responsible for requesting the Military Emergency Response Unit (UME). Between July 7 and August 22, the UME units actively supported 41 cases, providing a total of 5,600 personnel and over 2,000 resources.
Robles pointed out that some PP regions, such as Galicia, Extremadura and Castile and León, requested additional funds after 8:42 p.m. on August 15, despite existing coordination already underway.
