The government gives instructions to soldiers sent to Valencia to speak to the media

The delay of Pedro Sánchez's government in deploying the Armed Forces after the catastrophe in Valencia has provoked much criticism.

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The perception that the Valencian population has about the government's management was made very clear with the incidents on Sunday in Paiporta and Sánchez's flight from angry neighbors, whom the government and its media terminals are now trying to present as "far-right" groups, in an attempt to disqualify their complaints.

After its poor management, the government is now trying to craft a narrative to counter criticism from residents of the affected areas, the opposition, and many journalists. One of the most critical aspects for the government is the discontent of many soldiers for having spent days waiting for the government to decide to deploy them in the area, an inexplicable delay that even affected units based in Valencia.

Yesterday, the program "En boca de todos" on the Cuatro channel revealed the instructions sent by the government to the soldiers sent to Valencia: "It is information that we have firsthand since the soldiers themselves have told us. They are receiving messages on their cell phones with instructions," said a reporter.

These instructions have been sent under the title "Narrative for the press". The information revealed by Cuatro indicates that the government's message tells these soldiers that they should tell journalists that they have been sent "from all parts of Spain, with all our capabilities, day and night." Another of the instructions given by the government to these soldiers attempts to mitigate criticism for the delay in their deployment with this argument: "Behind each intervention on the ground, there is an immense logistical effort."

Furthermore, the government wants to prevent the soldiers from admitting to the media that their deployment was late (remember that the government did not order the massive deployment of the Armed Forces until four days after the cold snap of October 29). This is the order issued by the government to ensure the soldiers' silence on the matter, according to information revealed by Cuatro:

Whenever you ask whether we should have intervened earlier: "That is not for us to judge. It is up to us to work day and night for the benefit of the civilian population."

Cuatro reports that the soldiers who have received these instructions are "very indignant and sad", as they consider that "they are being used as instruments to whitewash the actions of politicians."

Last night, the newspaper El Debate confirmed this information in a news item stating the following: "The order is that all the soldiers deployed on the ground should know this. And they insist: "Anyone who goes out knows all this by heart." It is not a suggestion, it is an order."

The newspaper claims that Army sources have confirmed the sending of these instructions, indicating that they are "basic communication guidelines". The government therefore seems determined to prevent deployed soldiers from expressing criticism for the errors committed by public administrations, criticisms that some members of the Armed Forces have already begun to express on social networks.

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Photo: Ministerio de Defensa.