Vox councillor publicly apologizes for criticising local police superintendent
José Marcos Pons accepts that his comment was inappropriate whilst also reaffirming his party’s stance on gender violence.
Demands that Vox councillor and party spokesperson in Xàbia José Marcos Pons publicly apologize for his statement published on the party’s social media recently which criticized local security and the work of the Policía Local and in particular chief superintendent José Antonio Monfort have finally been realised.
The councillor, who is responsible for Tourism and Water Distribution at the town hall, had sparked controversy by openly criticizing the police chief for participating in the presentation of a book about the fight against gender violence, posting a comment that has now been deleted on the Vox Jávea Facebook page in which he said that“While Javea suffers more and more insecurity, today there has been a stabbing in broad daylight. What does the Chief Superintendent of the Policía Local do? He gives talks to continue persecuting and stigmatizing the male gender”. It was an accusation that generated strong rejection from his coalition partners in the local government as well as residents in general.
Faced with institutional and media pressure and the threat of a formal reprimand in the municipal plenary session by Ciudadanos por Jávea (the party that holds the Citizen Security Council seat, held by Juan Ortolá), Pons has finally backed down.
In his statement, he acknowledges that “the manner in which he addressed the Chief Superintendent of the Policía Local de Xàbia was inappropriate” and offered “the most sincere apologies” to both Monfort and the entire local police force, the members of which had also responded Pons’ original statement through EMAD, in which they strongly rejected his comment. He also expresses his “most sincere recognition for the work done and commitment to the citizens.”
However, the statement also added that Vox reaffirms that its “principles on gender violence are those that our party repeatedly defends and maintains” making it clear that the party has not renounced its usual discourse, which has been questioned by social groups and criticized by broad social and political sectors.
The statement was posted almost week after mayor Rosa Cardona (PP) attempted to close the crisis by stating that Pons had already apologized internally. However, CpJ’s demand for a public apology was still pending and was finally met on the afternoon of Wednesday 15th May, clearly seeking to stem the political erosion caused by his criticism. Meanwhile Cardona and her government team are left to rebuild an image of unity amid ideological tensions among its members.
Xàbia mayor denies government crisis following apology from Vox councillor – javeamigos.com
Political parties rally to defend chief superintendent after VOX criticism – javeamigos.com
