Angela de Miguel: “It is unacceptable to incite defection.”

Angela de Miguel, current president of CEOE Valladolid, is a candidate to lead Cepyme, the employers' association for small and medium-sized businesses, in the May 20 elections. These elections are causing strong tensions within the Spanish employers' association, and in which she, with the support of CEOE president Antonio Garamendi, is facing off against the current head of Cepyme, Gerardo Cuerva, who is seeking a repeat term.

Own voice “CEOE doesn’t rule Cepyme, nor will it ever rule, but unity is what gives us strength.”

When he said, "If they pinch me, SMEs emerge," what did he mean?

I started from scratch at 23. I've dedicated myself to advising SMEs. My husband is also an SME in the agricultural sector, and I've also worked for business organizations advising SMEs, so I couldn't imagine my life without my own experience as an SME.

Has Cepyme abandoned small and medium-sized businesses in recent years?

Right now in Spain, SMEs are in the worst situation possible. We have fewer SMEs, and they're also smaller because they hire less. Over the last six years, something hasn't been working and isn't being done well. SMEs in Spain feel abandoned because they're experiencing all of this every day. We believe that Cepyme, and I include myself in this, hasn't done enough. The organization needs to change.

Reduction of working hours "This is not acceptable under any circumstances. We don't want aid, we just want to be allowed to work."

What transformation will he make if he wins the elections?

We must be much more active, 365 days a year speaking out about the dramatic reality facing SMEs. It's also very important that all citizens in Spain know that we have fewer small businesses and that they are experiencing a very difficult situation. But in addition to speaking out, we must be proactive. We must propose concrete measures that will enable public authorities to adopt measures that improve the lives of SMEs. And we must ensure that every time an economic regulation is issued, the impact on the smallest businesses is measured.

Should Cepyme have its own voice, or should the relationship with CEOE be prioritized?

The two are perfectly compatible. It's very important for SMEs to have their own voice. And they don't have enough of a voice, they don't have enough presence. They could have much more. But all of this has to be done in coordination, because unity is what gives us strength. Division is bad, and the space occupied by CEOE is different from the space occupied by SMEs.

But CEOE cannot rule in Cepyme.

CEOE does not command Cepyme, nor will it command, nor has it commanded, because Cepyme is an absolutely independent organization.

She's been identified as Garamendi's candidate. Does this affect her?

No, I don't feel restricted at all, among other things because I share Antonio Garamendi's vision, which I believe is shared by most of the organization. We believe there is no rivalry between CEOE and Cepyme. We've lived together for 40 years, and that rivalry has never existed until the last two years.

You have complained of suffering dirty war in this campaign.

There's been a dirty war that serious organizations won't enter. I'm also concerned about some statements from the other candidate's campaign team, which practically encouraged defection. These are very serious statements because of the damage they can cause to our own organizations and the pressure they can exert on individual members to vote against those they represent. Let's not forget that the people who are going to vote represent an organization; they're not there in a personal capacity; they're there as representatives of an organization. It's dangerous, unethical, and opaque. And if you win thanks to defections, you have very little legitimacy to govern.

What statements are you referring to?

In a briefing given by Pánica, the campaign director, he said that the important thing isn't the organizations' positions, but rather that each member has their own vote and can vote however they want. Obviously, we believe it's the organizations that vote. If you're inciting members to vote against their organization, we think that's quite dangerous.

Is this incitement acceptable?

We don't think so. I don't think so.

Can specific aid for SMEs convince them to support reduced working hours?

In no case is it acceptable for many reasons. A larger company may have more flexibility, but a smaller company is impossible, so it will have to close. No matter how many patches you apply, those shorter hours mean less income. If we don't want aid, we want to be allowed to work. These are patch-ups, and the only thing they do is make you die in two years instead of dying in a year. All you're doing is prolonging the agony. These types of measures are nullifying collective bargaining, which is what allows these agreements to be reached, where feasible.