The Spanish mayor announced the decision to end his hunger strike after being admitted to hospital last week as concerns for his health grew. He made the announcement during an act entitled “For a sustainable energy culture and in support of Ángel Vadillo” held on Saturday at la Tabacalera in Madrid attended by actor Pepe Viyuela, musician Luis Pastor, and writer Rosa Regás, environmental associations, representatives of the renewables sector and politicians.
While his deteriorating health was a factor, a press release issued by Alburquerque Town Council explained that Vadillo had decided to begin eating again after the Spanish Ministry of Industry agreed to meet him yesterday (Monday) to discuss with him which representatives he would like to invite to the round table on the future of the renewables industry which he has been calling since he began the hunger strike 90 days ago.
Vadillo stated that had the energy reform been passed last Friday he would not have given up the hunger strike and would have taken the issue to the European authorities if need be. “I’ll walk to Brussels if I have to, because renewable energy projects will be worthless if the reform is approved, because they won't have any future," he said.
A brief meeting with the Ministry
Meanwhile, Vadillo celebrated a small step towards opening up the debate on the energy reform to the renewables sector after he was invited to meet with the Vice Industry Secretary, Enrique Hernández, at the Ministry’s offices. During the meeting Hernández assured Vadillo that his proposals would be considered within the framework of the energy reform being prepared by the Government.
In a press release, the Ministry revealed that during the meeting the Vice Secretary, who was accompanied by the PSOE’s Secretary for Regional Planning and Sustainability, Hugo Morán, encouraged Vadillo to present his proposals in an open manner in order to involve all stakeholders. The meeting lasted for an hour and was described as “very cordial”.
During the meeting, Enrique Hernández explained to Vadillo “the various measures the Industry Ministry is rolling out to resolve the electricity tariff deficit of more than €24 billion” and said that the Ministry “is keeping all lines of communication open”.
“You couldn’t imagine the things I have learnt”
Now that Vadillo has been given the opportunity to talk with the Spanish government, he will be keen to push forward with his agenda. During Saturday’s homage, Vadillo said: “You couldn’t imagine the things I have learnt, which I have added to my argument, not only about renewables".
For the mayor, it is important that Spain has energy sovereignty because this generates jobs and opportunities for social development. “It is not acceptable that in the future we buy in energy that has been generated in France or Germany using renewables,” he said. The mayor highlighted the importance of closing nuclear power plants “but not without finding alternative source of employment for the people working in them, which is where renewables can come in”.
Despite the Industry Ministry finally receiving Vadillo and allowing him time to air his concerns, it still remains clear that the Spanish government is committed to pushing through its energy reform.
Only today, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, said in an interview with the Spanish broadcaster, TVE, that measures to reduce the country’s deficit could include further “green taxes”: a move that would pile further pressure on the renewables industry which is struggling to survive in the current financing and policy climate in Spain.
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