Mariano Rajoy says economic growth and job creation needed to preserve Welfare State

Spain Prime Minister,​ Mariano Rajoy, visited the installations of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, which he described as a "flagship for healthcare in Spain". "Valdecilla is much more than a magnificent hospital. Valdecilla is pride, tradition and, to a certain extent, a hallmark of Santander and Cantabria. It is a Cantabrian hospital for all Spaniards", he added.

The President of the Government recalled that the Council of Ministers authorised the issue of a grant on Friday amounting to 28 million euros to finance investments at the hospital. With these funds, he said, the Government of Spain will have allocated 57 million euros to the centre. "Valdecilla is a benchmark, has been treated as such and will continue to be treated as such in the future", he said.

Mariano Rajoy highlighted the determination of the President of the Regional Government of Cantabria, Ignacio Diego, in seeking finance for the project and congratulated those responsible for the building works, hospital staff and all of Cantabrian society for its support. He also remembered the worker who was killed while working on the construction project at the hospital on Friday.

Furthermore, he said that "the 15th of May - the scheduled date for conclusion of the works - is not the end but simply a milestone" for a hospital being called upon to play "a leading role in the present and future of Spanish society".

Mariano Rajoy expressed gratitude to the people of Spain for having understood the decisions taken by all governments, "regardless of their political affiliation", during an "extremely difficult" period for Spain.

At this difficult time, he said, "we have managed to preserve what matters most, the fundamental pillars of the welfare system: public pensions, public healthcare, education and all social services".

The President of the Government believes that "economic growth, economic activity and job creation" are required to continue preserving the system in the future. For that reason, he added, "I have been saying for three years, and will continue to say in the future, that the main priority for this legislature and indeed the next can be nothing other than job creation".