Mariano Rajoy claims that Galicia is "a success story of our State model of regions"

Parliament of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

During his speech, President of the Government Rajoy recalled the major change that has taken place in Galicia in all areas since 1981, the year in which its first regional parliament was formed. Since that time, the transformation of Galicia has been very far-reaching, "despite being hard hit, particularly in recent times, by some very harsh economic crises".

In this regard, he claimed that "Galicia prospers", and it does so thanks to the "talent, efforts and courage, the hard work and determination of many Galician people, but also because there has been an institutional framework in Spain and in Galicia that has favoured this".

The prosperity of Galicia in the 21st Century

The President of the Government highlighted that "Galicia has been a true success story of our State model of regions over the last 35 years". He also rejected the theories of those who "call everything into question, of those who say that nothing ever changes here, of those who are incapable of seeing the world with a certain objectivity and of those who only see what is wrong".

Mariano Rajoy, after admitting that certain things can be improved upon, recalled that Galicia has sound foundations which " is a collective achievement of all the people of Galicia", resulting "from a shared interest" and "from a joint effort".

Work with loyalty and efficacy

Pool Moncloa / Diego CrespoThe President of the Government also added that "Galicia has everything going for it to be a success story in the 21st Century". "It is in Spain, it is in Europe, where 25% of the world's wealth can be found, a space where democracy, liberty and human rights are firmly entrenched; a region where a welfare model exists with certain public services that cannot be found anywhere else in the world".

President of the Government Rajoy also underlined Galicia's many assets, such as "a unique cultural heritage, an active civil society, and a dynamic business fabric which is already internationalised". Moreover, the people of Galicia have found a way to respect their traditions and maintain their identity while championing the idea of "modernity, openness, quality of life, dynamism and international projection".

Mariano Rajoy added that "we must all strive together" to find a better future, by working "with our customary loyalty and with the efficacy we all want to see".

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, President of the Regional Government of Galicia

Mariano Rajoy also praised the President of the Regional Government of Galicia on his re-election, about whom he said that he possesses the values "that qualify him to be a good governor": moderation, a reformist commitment, the necessary determination, social awareness and stability".

The President of the Government added that, he also has "his sentiment as a Galician and his love for Galicia". In his opinion, the people of Galicia acknowledged all of these values in Alberto Núñez Feijóo when they voted him in by majority a month and a half ago.