News Summary: Justice, National Politics, and Summer Forecasts
French justice has given the green light for the handover of José Antonio Urrutikoetxea, known as Josu Ternera, to the Spanish authorities. The historic leader of the terrorist group ETA is wanted for his alleged role in leading the organization for years. This judicial decision represents a significant step in the legal proceedings that the former leader has pending in Spain.
In the field of national politics, the director of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, is at the center of a major controversy. According to recent reports, González allegedly investigated agents of the UCO unit based on their close relationship with people linked to the PSOE. At the same time, the Government of the Community of Madrid has described President Pedro Sánchez's attitude as "extremely serious" following the release of new Civil Guard reports, accusing him of jeopardizing the stability of Spanish institutions.
On the other hand, the European Union has issued a warning about the climate for the coming months. A summer with higher-than-normal temperatures and less rainfall than usual is expected, which considerably increases the risk of forest fires. To face this threat, the European Commission has mobilized a fleet of 22 planes and five helicopters, allocating two of these aircraft specifically to Spain to protect the most vulnerable areas.
In the Community of Madrid, the regional government has expressed its rejection of the new Framework Statute approved by the Ministry of Health, calling the measure a "betrayal" of professionals in the sector. Additionally, Madrid authorities have confirmed that they will not draft special regulations to facilitate concerts at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. According to the regional executive, the general interest and the residents' rest will be prioritized over the interests of large events.
In Asturias, political and administrative activity is also intense. The President of the Principality, Adrián Barbón, must provide explanations to the Plenary on critical issues such as problems in the train service, regional financing, and waste management. Likewise, it has been confirmed that Azahara Cañedo Ramos will be appointed next week as the new director of the Radio Television of the Principality of Asturias (RTPA), after obtaining the necessary support from the left-wing parliamentary groups.
Finally, the economy and education mark the close of the day. The Recio Group, owner of Perfumerías Avenida, has presented a layoff plan that will affect 105 workers due to pressure from digital competition. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 Asturian students are facing their second day of university entrance exams (Selectividad), where they have had to answer questions on topics as diverse as ChatGPT's artificial intelligence, women's rights, and contemporary Spanish political history.