01.02-Spain Today news 4th October

1. Spain evacuates citizens from Lebanon Two Spanish Air Force planes landed at the Torrejón de Ardoz air base with 241 Spanish citizens evacuated from Lebanon. The evacuation was carried out in response to the worsening conflict in the Middle East, rescuing a total of 500 Spanish citizens who resided in the country or who found it difficult to leave by commercial means. “It is very difficult to leave all the people you love and close your door,” one of these evacuees told TVE. The Government does not rule out coordinating more evacuations if necessary. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, declared that the possibility of sending a third plane is being studied, although at the moment it does not seem necessary. About 1,000 Spaniards are registered in Lebanon. Minister Robles also expressed her concern about the escalation of the conflict, reiterating the need for containment and de-escalation, and condemning the aggressions of both Iran against Israel and those occurring in Gaza and Lebanon. 2. Feijóo presents a national housing plan Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party (PP), announced that his party will present a national housing plan before the end of the month as an alternative to the current government plan. Feijóo criticized the government plan, calling it "failed," and accused the "interventionism" of the State of discouraging supply. The PP plan seeks to "provide agility," "expand supply," "guarantee legal security" and "reduce urban planning bureaucracy" to facilitate access to housing. Feijóo also advocated for "ambitious legal reforms" and "economic and fiscal support" for those who save to buy a home. Feijóo stressed that there will be "no protection for those who illegally occupy a home" and that "the criminalisation of private property is a serious mistake." 3. Cases against former ETA leaders closed for the murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco The National Court closed the cases against former ETA leaders Miguel Albisu Iriarte, alias 'Mikel Antza', and Ignacio de Gracia Arregui, alias 'Iñaki de Rentería', for the kidnapping and murder of councillor Miguel Ángel Blanco in 1997. The Criminal Court considers that the events have expired, as happened with the former ETA leader Soledad Iparrraguirre, alias 'Anboto'. The popular accusations, including the Popular Party, maintained that the events were not subject to a statute of limitations by Organic Law 5/2010, which declares the imprescriptibility of terrorist crimes resulting in death. However, the National Court referred to the current criminal law and jurisprudence. The three former ETA leaders had been prosecuted by Judge Manuel García Castellón on charges of indirect authorship due to control of the organisation, arguing that as top leaders they could have prevented the murder.