Diana Morant responds to Mompó's attack: "In the Popular Party, they only contribute insults and sexism"

Diana Morant has responded this Friday to the attack by the president of the Valencia Provincial Council, Vicent Mompó, who called her "Sánchez's ass-kisser" and assured that "she's useless". In statements on 'Malas Lenguas', on La 2, the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities has placed the popular leader's words within a way of doing politics based on personal insult.

"If, in the face of political criticism, the only thing the PP has to offer are insults and sexism, then we are on the right track," said the also general secretary of the PSPV.

Morant explained that she feels "a victim of sexism" and pointed out that she has been receiving attacks of this type for some time. "They have been treating me like this for a long time," she lamented. The socialist leader believes that the aggressiveness of the message demonstrates Mompó's lack of arguments to answer questions about his actions during the DANA.

The clash began on Thursday, after Morant commented on a report prepared by the Human Resources Department of the Provincial Council and sent to the judge of Catarroja who is investigating the management of the catastrophe.

The document confirmed that the email by which activities were suspended and the closure of centers dependent on the provincial corporation from 2:00 p.m. was ordered was sent to a list that included deputies, advisors, the president and the vice president of the institution.

Based on that information, Morant accused Mompó of knowing the preventive measures adopted by the Provincial Council and of only notifying his inner circle. "The rest of Valencians, no," the minister wrote.

Mompó responded the next day, accusing her of caring more about cameras than about victims and reproaching her for appearing two days after the DANA in Pedro Sánchez's helicopter. Then came the personal attack that has unleashed the socialist reaction. "Diana, you will always be Zapatero's daughter, Sánchez's ass-kisser. You're useless, plain and simple," the popular leader wrote.

The message bears the signature of the president of a public institution and the top leader of the PP in the province of Valencia. This dual status has turned the confrontation into a political problem for Alberto Núñez Feijóo's national leadership.

Morant points to the internal race of the Valencian PP

During her intervention in 'Malas Lenguas', Morant has also linked Mompó's tone with his aspirations within the Popular Party. The minister has defined him as Carlos Mazón's "dolphin" and has assured that he intends to succeed the former Valencian president as a candidate for the Generalitat.

"I don't know if he's scoring points," Morant slipped, before linking his words to the verbal escalation protagonized by other PP leaders, including Miguel Tellado, and to the attacks directed in recent months against journalists, media, and political adversaries.

Socialist deputy Víctor Camino has put forward a similar interpretation. In his opinion, the message also targets the current president of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, because Mompó would be trying to gain ground with Feijóo for a future candidacy. Camino has called for leaving behind "Mazón's boys" and has described the attack as "sexist and ill-mannered".

The PSOE demands a response from Feijóo

The PSOE's Organization Secretary, Rebeca Torró, has taken the controversy to the national leadership of the PP. Torró has demanded that Feijóo publicly disavow Mompó and demand "immediate apologies" for his words.

"Enough of insults and this stale sexism," wrote the socialist leader, who also reproached the Popular Party for turning politics into a "mire."

The official PSOE account has warned that calling a woman a "ass-kisser" and telling her she "is good for nothing" should have consequences for any public official. The socialist spokesperson in Les Corts, José Muñoz, has also called for an immediate rectification and has assured that the message provokes rejection both for its sexism and its aggressiveness.