PPE-USA Update

News and announcements from the People's Party of Spain in the United States

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Visit of Ana Pastor and Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga to New York

Ana Pastor Julián, Executive Secretary of Social and Welfare Policies of the People's Party of Spain, and Rafael Rodriguez-Ponga, Secretary of Communications of the People's Party of Spain, visited New York City on February 9 and 10, 2008. The purpose of the visit was to meet with members and sympathizers of the People's Party of Spain in the United States.

After meeting with the territorial delegates and the Board of Directors of the party in the United States, Ana Pastor visited several Spanish clubs in the greater New York City area, such as the "Spanish-American Citizens Club" of Bayonne, New Jersey and "Casa de Galicia" of Queens, New York. The main item on Ana Pastor's agenda was a meeting with members and friends of the People's Party of Spain in the United States. Before more than 200 people who packed the conference room at the Alger House in Manhattan, Ana Pastor reviewed the current political, social and economic situation in Spain and presented the program of the People's Party of Spain for the upcoming general election on March 9th. She emphasized those proposals of special interest for Spaniards living overseas:

  • Create a Health Care Card to extend universal health care to those Spaniards residing overseas.
  • Increase the Social Security payments to reflect the cost of living increases.
  • Promote and support centers and associations of Spaniards overseas.
  • Establish new centers of the National Distance University (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia) to reach more students.
  • Establish scholarships and a program of financial aid to facilitate the education in Spain of children of Spanish nationals living overseas.
  • Simplify the certification of foreign education degrees in Spain.
  • Reform the Penal Code so that children and grandchildren of Spanish nationals can obtain Spanish citizenship regardless of their country of birth.
  • Reform the electoral law to guarantee that all Spaniards can vote and be elected in Spanish elections.
  • Increase personnel in embassies and consulates.
  • Provide financial aid to incentivate the return of Spanish workers and their fanilies.

View some photos of the visit here.