Claver responded by accusing the PSOE of “exploiting Maricarmen’s death” and said it was “the most miserable thing I have ever seen in politics”. He also insisted that “the deceased deserve respect and dignity” and accused the Socialist deputies of lacking both. In response, members of the Socialist group stood up, although before leaving the chamber Antonio Biescas said: “If the president lectures the entire plenary, this is not a democratic debate”.
CLAVER SAYS HE DID NOT LAUGH
The president of the Huesca Provincial Council said he had not laughed, quite the contrary, and considered the Socialists’ departure “a lack of respect for all the people of Alto Aragón”. After the altercation, a recess was called and, upon returning, Claver said the incident was a “misunderstanding” on Enrique Pueyo’s part, as he had not been laughing.
Biescas then demanded that the president apologize to the Socialist Party as a condition for returning to the plenary session. Claver, for his part, urged them to continue the session normally, “so that no little show is made”, and added that, if Pueyo were present, the misunderstanding could be cleared up.
The Socialist spokesman reiterated his request for an apology, while Claver asked them to decide whether they wanted to restore normality or leave the plenary session, “something unprecedented in this institution”. Biescas replied that no president had ever shouted at a group while one of its deputies was speaking. Finally, the entire Socialist group vacated its seats and the plenary continued without them.
Outside the Huesca Provincial Council, the PSOE later denounced what had happened. “We cannot allow anyone to shout at us in a plenary session or tell us how we have to act. Least of all the president”, Biescas said, calling for the restoration of respect and institutional normality.
The Socialist spokesman also warned that, in his group’s view, the episode was part of a situation that had been dragging on for the past few years and was hindering the normal conduct of political activity at the Provincial Council. “We hope there will be a correction”, he stressed. Biescas explained that the PSOE regretted leaving the plenary session, but considered it a necessary decision in the face of a situation he described as “unbearable”.
