This decision comes after the Lower House dismissed a proposal to establish a commissioner to coordinate actions by various administrations regarding shantytown settlements. The initiative, championed by United Left - SUMAR deputy Francisco Sierra, was rejected with votes against from PP, Vox, PNV, and Junts.
“"The right-wing PP, together with the far-right and the Catalan and Basque right-wing parties, have agreed to vote against upholding human rights in Huelva."
The spokesperson for the Andalusian coalition in Huelva, Marcos Toti, who was present in Congress, described the rejection as “a new example of a lack of humanity” in the face of a reality they consider “unacceptable.” Por Andalucía recalled that PP and Vox had already voted against a similar proposal in the Huelva Provincial Council last year.
The coalition emphasizes that the commissioner's objective is to “coordinate the work that city councils, the Provincial Council, the Junta de Andalucía, and the Government of Spain must carry out to eradicate shantytown settlements and provide a dignified solution for migrant day laborers.” It is estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrant workers, crucial for the red fruit campaign, live in substandard housing conditions without access to basic rights in the province.
Por Andalucía has warned about the severity of the situation, noting that since 2020, more than 30 fires have been recorded in these settlements, resulting in at least five fatalities. The coalition attributes the rejection to a political will to “keep this population invisible,” which, in their view, fosters labor exploitation.
Following the vote, Marcos Toti has contacted the Sumar group in the European Parliament and MEP Estrella Galán to bring the issue to European institutions. They criticize the “neglect and inaction of the Popular Party” and the statements by popular deputy Bella Verano, who claimed that the Andalusian Government is solving the problem, a statement that Por Andalucía believes “does not correspond to reality.”
