PP’s Juanma Moreno becomes new President of Junta de Andalucia following parliament vote

JUANMA MORENO has been voted in as the new Junta de Andalucia, leading a rightwing coalition that has led to protests due to its association with the far-right.

Moreno, of the conservative Partido Popular (PP), was voted in this afternoon by a margin of 59 votes to 50. He will formally take office on Friday.

📺 La presidenta del Parlamento de Andalucía, @martabosquet, anuncia la elección de @JuanMa_Moreno como presidente de la Junta de Andalucía #InvestiduraAnd pic.twitter.com/oiHPdiQ94M

— Parlamento Andalucía (@ParlamentoAnd) January 16, 2019

Debates on the change of government took place whilst demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building in Sevilla in protest against his working with the far-right Vox.

He will govern as president of the Junta in coalition with the centrist Ciudadanos while Vox’s 12 assembly members provide backing in parliamentary votes.

Moreno said his appointment opened the door to change in the region.

“This administration will now begin improving the lives of Andalucians,” Moreno said.

▶ @JuanMa_Moreno: "Tenemos que abrir las puertas de la Junta de par en par. Los andaluces quieren luz en San Telmo".#InvestiduraAnd pic.twitter.com/oyV6bZi2ao

— Partido Popular 🇪🇸 (@PPopular) January 16, 2019

Ciudadanos’ Juan Marin, who is set to serve as Junta Vice President, said Moreno’s becoming president marked a “historic day” for the region.

“We are leading the democratic regeneration, the economic dynamisation and the shoring up of public services,” Marin said.

🏛 @JuanMarin_Cs "Los servicios públicos no se defienden enarbolando banderas, sino dotándolos presupuestariamente y ejecutando partidas que mejoren la eficacia, garantizando la sostenibilidad y apostando por nuestros profesionales" #InvestiduraAnd pic.twitter.com/fOoMFXzNQ4

— Cs Andalucía (@Cs_Andalucia) January 16, 2019

PSOE’s Susana Diaz, Moreno’s predecessor as Junta president, said the PP and Ciudadanos had come to power with the help of the “heirs” of former dictator Francisco Franco.

“You, Juanma Moreno, have had to appropriate the vote of the extreme right to gain a legitimate parliamentary majority. I’m not going to doubt the legitimacy of your government but I’m not going to disguise reality either,” Diaz, who will now lead PSOE in opposition, said.

Va a poder formar un gobierno de cambio, de cambio a peor, que se sustentará en un bloque de #involución. VOX tiene la sartén por el mango. Solo gracias a los votos de la extrema derecha tiene la posibilidad de alcanzar la presidencia

🏛️📹 @susanadiaz ⤵️ #InvestiduraAND pic.twitter.com/B51MZdQnqe

— PSOE de Andalucía (@psoedeandalucia) January 16, 2019

It is the first time in Spain’s democratic history that Andalucia will not be governed by the left-leaning Partido Socialista (PSOE).

Francisco Serrano, who leads Vox in the Andalucian Parliament, criticised the “insults” his party had received while the PP and Ciudadanos worked to form their coalition pact.

“If we are anything, we are a party with extreme common sense. We are the ones who have brought about change in Andalucia, not the PP or Ciudadanos,” Serrano said.

⬇️ HILO ⬇️

Los mejores momentos de @FSerranoCastro en la investidura del presidente de Andalucía:

🗨 "Los candidatos de VOX ya defendían a las mujeres cuando Susana Díaz se dedicaba a reivindicar el botellón". pic.twitter.com/7spzu7vpSC

— VOX 🇪🇸 (@vox_es) January 16, 2019

Teresa Rordiguez, of the leftist Podemos who ran to be president with the Adelante Andalucia united left front, said the incoming administration had big neckties and small hearts.

“You are the government of the rich, of men in black and vulture funds,” Rodriguez said.

🎥 Aquí pueden ver los 4 motivos por los que rechazamos la investidura de Moreno Bonilla y el tripartito reaccionario. 💬 @TeresaRodr_ lo explica en la #InvestiduraAND👇 pic.twitter.com/iL9f6VCG2c

— Adelante Andalucía (@AdelanteAND) January 16, 2019

Demonstrations against the PP-Ciudadanos pact took place in Sevilla, Malaga and Madrid while the debate and vote went on.

Protesters chanted: “Our rights are non-negotiable” in reference to Vox’s demand to overhaul gender violence laws in exchange for their supporting the PP and Ciudadanos.

Vox, which critics claim is a home for racists, sexists and Franco nostalgists, also proposed expelling 52,000 immigrants from Andalucia.

The PP and Ciudadanos rejected both proposals but said they would consider altering gender violence legislation to include male as well as female victims.