Redaccion
The BNG demands specificity on the increase for a service that it sees as «the jewel in the crown» of dependency
The Minister of Social Policy, Fabiola García, is confident of reaching a new agreement with the Galician Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (Fegamp) to increase funding for the home help service «as soon as possible.»
This was her response to the interpellation in the Parliament by BNG deputy Olalla Rodil, who asked for details on «to what extent and how» this increase would be implemented, and if it would be approved retroactively from January 1.
In her turn, the Minister thanked the President of Fegamp for his «willingness to negotiate openly» and contrasted this path of «dialogue» and «cooperation» with that of the central government, which she accused of «suffocating municipalities.»
«It is urgent that the central government change its attitude and start funding 50% of the cost of dependency, as they are obligated by law,» she emphasized.
She then went on to criticize the BNG for supporting the government despite this «blatant breach.» Additionally, Fabiola García pointed out earlier that the home help service in Galicia «is a benchmark,» with over 25,000 users, and stressed that the Xunta has been making a significant effort for many years to ensure its funding, which falls under municipal jurisdiction.
MACHO VIOLENCE
On another note, Rodil began her intervention with a reference to the debate that took place between the President of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, and the leader of the Bloque, Ana Pontón, during the plenary session regarding macho violence.
García responded by expressing «maximum repudiation and condemnation of Pontón’s words,» which she identified as «a new display of irresponsibility and demagoguery» for «using the Galician Parliament to accuse the Xunta and the PP of normalizing, almost endorsing, gender violence.» «I will not allow it, neither as a Minister, nor as a PP voter, nor as a woman. What a shame, they cannot sink any lower,» she asserted.
On her part, the nationalist criticized that «two women are killed, and the Minister for Equality comes to condemn the opposition leader,» while warning of the «complicit silence» in the face of this scourge.
«NEVER LESS THAN THE BASQUE COUNTRY»
Still on the topic of the interpellation, the home help service, the Bloque parliamentarian demanded funding for what she described as the «jewel in the crown» of dependency.
The Minister of Social Policy, on the other hand, insisted that, in her opinion, «the BNG is being taken for a ride and the BNG says it’s raining,» and urged that «Galicians should not be treated as second-class citizens and have to beg for what is rightfully theirs by law.» «We would like to be treated like the Basque Country (…) What the BNG is doing is staying silent and allowing this constant abuse,» she concluded.
Just before concluding, the regional leader added: «We will reach that agreement with Fegamp. We will increase the funding (…) Galicia will never be less than the Basque Country.»
