Spanish minister stokes controversy as wildfires rage

The minister who stokes controversy while the mountains burn

Óscar Puente has once again shown that, for him, no catastrophe cannot be turned to political advantage. His statements during the wildfires ravaging Toledo, Madrid and Ávila have been labelled "vulture-like" by numerous critics. However, the data on prevention funding and the obsolescence of the aerial fleet suggest that behind the outrage there are material arguments.

Prevention in free fall

According to the figures circulating in the analysis of the crisis, the Spanish Government's consolidated spending on wildfire prevention in 2022 was €175.8 million, barely half of the €364 million allocated in 2009. This reduction has coincided with an increase in the virulence of the fires, which require ever more resources. Meanwhile, of the 14 large-capacity water bombers, only 6 would be operational, with an average age of 55 years. The paradox is that the bailout of the airline Plus Ultra cost €54 million, a figure similar to what has been cut from prevention.

The Government's response: much ado about nothing?

The minister has been accused of exploiting the emergency to attack regions governed by the PP, forgetting that the UME (Spain's Military Emergency Unit) has also deployed in socialist-run regions. It has also been pointed out that the request for assistance from the European Union highlights the lack of domestic resources. The discussion has been tainted by references to the January train accident and other episodes in which, according to critics, the same minister changed his tune.

The underlying climate debate

While some insist that climate change is making the fires worse, others argue that most are deliberate and that prevention is the only solution. This division goes beyond political noise and points to a lack of long-term strategy.

With this state of affairs, the controversy will not die down when the flames do. If the Government does not reverse its prevention policy, next summer could be even more devastating, and the temptation to play politics with fire even harder to resist.