- “Madrid is what it is thanks to the generosity of the rest of Spain and many parts of the world. Spain cannot be understood without Madrid, but Madrid has to be grateful to the rest of the country”
- “We will explain the policies we develop so that, in these times of hoaxes and disinformation, citizens have real and verifiable information”
- “I want us to promote Madrid so that people can live better in this region. From the respect and concord between the institutions and with the citizenship, so that we are freer and feel more secure”
- The Recovery Plan has already involved an investment of 6,223 million euros in the Community of Madrid, 14% of the total of the State
- The increase in pensions benefits 1,120,811 pensioners in the Community; the increase in the SMI to 288,000 Madrileños, especially women; the IMV, to more than 160,000 vulnerable Madrileñas and Madrileños
The government delegate to the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín, today took office during an institutional ceremony where he stressed that the central executive “is committed, within its competences, to the well-being of the population of Madrid, it complies with Madrid, and it does so with transparency, accounting for the work done”.
The event, in which the transfer of functions between the former delegate, Mercedes González –general director of the Civil Guard now– and Francisco Martín took place, was attended by the Minister of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory, Félix Bolaños; together with a broad representation of the Central Executive: Óscar López, director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government; Rafael Pérez, secretary of State for Security; Antonio Julián Rodríguez, secretary of State for Justice; Ángeles Moreno, secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Francesc Vallès, secretary of State for Communication; Antonio Hernando, deputy director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government; in addition to the president of the Senate, Ander Gil; and the director of the National Intelligence Center (CNI), Esperanza Casteleiro. Also the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso; and the mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, among many other authorities; among them, the heads of the FFCCSE in the region. To all of them, the new delegate has “enormously” thanked them for their efforts to respect and care for the institutions. “A path that we should never abandon, despite the temptations,” he added.
Madrid, within Spain
“Spain cannot be understood without Madrid, but Madrid has to be grateful to the rest of Spain for everything it brings us today and everything it has given us for decades. Therein lies much of our true wealth, for which Madrid should always respond in a joyful, fraternal, and supportive manner,” said the government delegate.
Loyal collaboration
During his speech, Francisco Martín also pointed out that the Government of Spain is determined to continue “improving the living conditions of the people of Madrid in the present, facing the difficulties that cross the path, but also laying the foundations to look to the future with the best expectations”. “In order to meet this challenge effectively, strong and loyal cooperation between this Delegation and all Madrid administrations will be essential. President, mayors and mayors, count on the Government of Spain and this Delegation to work on behalf of the people of Madrid, to make and coordinate policies, to build together solutions that improve the lives of our neighbors. You will always find this Delegate loyally there,” said Francisco Martín.
Accountability with real and contrasting information
As “they will also find us in the explanation of the results of the policies we develop, so that in these times of hoaxes and disinformation citizens have real and verifiable information”, he continued. Because “despite all the difficulties encountered throughout the legislature, the first coalition government of democracy has brought stability to our country that few predicted. Three General State Budgets approved in time and form, a full legislature and solutions, many solutions. It is not about falling into self-complacency, because there is a lot ahead, but it is about highlighting what has been achieved in terms of stability, because it is not always achieved.”
Concrete solutions
Regarding the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which was negotiated by the Government of Pedro Sánchez, he stressed that it has already represented, to date, an investment of 6,223 million euros in the Community of Madrid, 14% of the total of the State. “These large numbers translate into very concrete improvements for the citizens of Madrid, such as the creation of 14,780 FP places that will be increased by 10,606 more, thanks to the Plan,” he said.
Protect Madrileñas and Madrileños
Likewise, the government delegate has explained “the main measures that have served to protect Madrid and Madrid from the effects of inflation caused by the Putin war”: the increase in pensions under the CPI has benefited 1,120,811 pensioners in the Community, of which 15.5% have a minimum pension; the increase in the Interprofessional Minimum Wage, from 735 euros in 2018 to the current 1,080 euros, which has benefited 288,000 Madrid pensioners, mainly women; or the Minimum Vital Income, which represents a fundamental support for more than 160,000 Madrid administrations that can supplement the economic situation.
Welfare State Defense
The government delegate also highlighted the central executive’s support for mobility in Madrid, “precisely in the autonomous community where more time is used every day to go to work.” “The gratuitousness of the subscriptions of Neighbourhoods and the discount on urban transport are being fundamental so that the citizens of the community will cost much less to move and go to work. Nearly 430,000 people benefit from reduced subscriptions,” he said.
Francisco Martín also stressed that “health, the main concern of the people of Madrid, is the jewel in the crown that we must all take care of, protect and strengthen”. Therefore, within the scope of its competences, the Government of Spain “has dedicated more than 102 million euros to the purchase of high-tech healthcare equipment in 21 public hospitals in the region. At the same time, 1,490 MIR places have been called to reinforce the staff”.
“Public education and the fight against social exclusion are also areas that are being invested in to make life easier in this Community. The Government of Spain grants scholarships to more than 116,000 people in the Community of Madrid to make the social elevator of education work. Or housing, the main obstacle to the emancipation of Madrid’s youth.” “From this Delegation we will do everything necessary to ensure the good execution of Operation Camp, in which 12,000 homes will be developed, 60% protected,” he recalled.
“The Government of Spain complies with Madrid and we do so with transparency, giving the face and accounting for the work done. To make Madrid a more sustainable, more modern and digitalized community that moves unhesitatingly towards effective equality between women and men.”
Gender violence
“I am particularly concerned about the fiercest manifestation of inequality: gender violence. Last year seven women and a girl were killed for being women in the Community of Madrid. This Delegation, with its Coordination Unit against Violence against Women at the head, is and will continue to be relentless in the face of this violence and will put all the resources, in cooperation with the other administrations, to prevent these attacks effectively,” emphasized the Government delegate.
Public service
Likewise, the delegate has also been convinced that “from the effort and in the team” it will be possible to overcome “all the challenges”. “With the conviction that the human team that is going to accompany me, the public servants of the Delegation, the State Security Forces and Bodies and, in general, all the personnel of the State Administration in the territory of the Community of Madrid, are people with an exemplary public service vocation, as they have been demonstrating day after day,” he said. “Because that must be the purpose that guides administrative action: public service. I want this Delegation to promote Madrid so that in this Community we live better and so that life is a little easier. From the respect and concord between the institutions and with the citizens, so that we in Madrid and Madrid are freer and feel more secure,” he said.
Thanks to Mercedes González
Both at the beginning and at the end of his speech, Francisco Martín had words of thanks for the ex-delegate of the Government, Mercedes González, new general director of the Civil Guard. “I confess that lately I have the great fortune to face responsibilities in which my predecessors have left me very high, through the clouds. And that happens precisely today. Your intelligence, your courage, your commitment and your vocation of public service have made the work you have done during these two years at the head of the Delegation represent the best inspiration for those of us who have come from behind”, he stressed.
“You have taken on a very important new responsibility by leaving us all a bittersweet taste. We know that the leadership of the Civil Guard will continue in good hands, there is no doubt, but, simultaneously, we faced the interruption of your time here, something that nobody wanted because, simply, you were leading a job well done,” he said.
TAKING OF POSSESSION SPEECH - FULL TEXT