Por Redaccion 
The President of the Principality of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, accused the right on Thursday of «having no ethical or any kind of limits when it comes to eroding a progressive government.» Barbón made these statements during his speech at the congress of the SOMA-FITAG-UGT union. «We have only had one boundary: respect and dignity. I see with pain that the right has decided to overcome it because for them there have been no ethical limits. They have even been willing to use pain. Terrible,» he said.
According to Barbón, the purpose of the parliamentary investigation commission has been «to generate noise, confusion, hide the progress of the triple investigation underway, cover up Blue Solving, and blur the responsibilities of the company.» On the contrary, he pointed out, «the left must have been on the side of the workers, truth, and justice.» He added that «they themselves, with their behavior and attitude, have shown us day by day that we were right. We will not deviate from our goal: investigation, certainties, and responsibility no matter who falls.»
The president also emphasized that «the reindustrialization of Asturias requires the push from the mining basins.» The congress of the SOMA-FITAG-UGT union was held at the Sotón mine, in San Martín del Rey Aurelio, where José Luis Alperi will be reelected as secretary general.
The Sotón mine has become a symbol of the reconversion of the mining basins, transforming into a tourist attraction. Other mines have taken similar paths, although in different sectors: the Carrio mine has focused on the agri-food industry; the Santiago and San Jorge mines have hosted projects related to data storage and the aerospace industry. Therefore, Barbón assured that «the mining basins have started their economic reactivation.» To achieve this, he appealed for unity: «In this decisive period, we have needed to join all hands. Municipalities, unions, university, Hunosa… We have all had to get involved in the same common goal, without anyone feeling left out.»
The president reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the mining regions, highlighting the healthcare logistics platform in Langreo as an example of strategic investment. «We chose Langreo for two reasons: because it was a good location and to demonstrate with facts our commitment to the mining regions,» he stated.
This project has included a central laundry for hospitals and residences, spare parts warehouses, furniture and healthcare material, as well as an archive, reflecting a comprehensive commitment to the development of the area. Barbón mentioned several strategic projects that have contributed to the reindustrialization of Asturias, such as the expansion of Bayer’s facilities and the biomass plant in La Pereda.
Barbón also highlighted economic diversification and the promotion of industrial heritage as a tourist resource. «We have continued to promote diversification, with new investments in Pajares, the electrical connection between Fuentes de Invierno and San Isidro,» he indicated. Additionally, he emphasized the creation of a mining culture chair in collaboration with the University of Oviedo, aiming to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the mining basins, which has also attracted tourism and generated additional income.
During his speech, Barbón underscored the role of SOMA-FITAG-UGT as a workers’ organization linked from its origin to the Asturian Socialist Federation. «The joint work of the union and the party has been decisive in benefiting the working class and Asturias in general,» he highlighted.