The Vice President and Counselor of Deregulation, Social Welfare, and Family of the Government of Aragón, Alejandro Nolasco, has claimed this Thursday, September 24, in the Cortes of Aragón the management carried out since he took over the department. In an appearance promoted by the PSOE to detail the improvement measures, he has highlighted the reduction of the average resolution time for dependency to 111 days, the implementation of new residential places for the elderly, and the aid directed to families and people with ALS.
Nolasco has emphasized that his work aligns with the governance pact signed between PP and Vox and has referred to two calls published this month: one of nearly one million euros for family projects aimed at promoting work-life balance and another of about 491,000 euros for multiple births and adoptions. Both include, he has stressed, criteria of "national priority." "What we said when we were part of the opposition, we transferred to the electoral program and from the electoral program we have embodied in the government agreement and we are fulfilling it," he has indicated.
The counselor has insisted that this approach will be a "constant work dynamic" because, in his opinion, "resources are finite." "If tomorrow 500 million Africans come, how is there going to be money and means for them and for us?" he has questioned, concluding that, when it comes to distributing funds, it is "logical" to allocate them "to those who have been with us the longest and who contribute the most to the system." In this line, he has announced that his department will focus on "fighting against fraud, against illegal immigration" and on strengthening social services "in everything that is within our reach."
In this context, he has highlighted the resources dedicated to unaccompanied migrant minors and has assured that Aragón has won "17 out of 17 rulings" in processes regarding the transfers of minors that, according to his interpretation, the courts considered irregular. Likewise, he has announced that age determination tests will be carried out on unaccompanied foreign minors who arrive and has pointed out that between 70 and 90 percent of the tests carried out in other cases conclude that they are of legal age.
Nolasco has also linked the management of resources for minors with the care of elderly people: "The fewer places for minors there are, the more places for the elderly we will have," he stated. In this area, he has quantified more than 150 new residential places promoted in Pina de Ebro, Fonz, Andorra, and Sariñena. "We have helped to accelerate the procedures for the opening," he emphasized.
The vice president has also highlighted the situation of dependency in Aragón. With data as of August 31, he pointed out that the average resolution time is 111 days, compared to the national average of 302, and he stressed that Aragón is "the first autonomous community in speed" in this procedure.
In relation to ALS, he detailed that there are between 90 and 100 patients in Aragón and highlighted the order approved in July, which includes aid of up to 9,854.9 euros per month for the most severe cases. "In six weeks" the order was approved, he emphasized, and assured that the goal is to guarantee "the maximum dignity for ALS patients and their families."
Finally, Nolasco indicated that in his first four months at the head of the department, he has held meetings with "more than 80 entities." "In four months, work has been done in social services that has never been done," he declared.
PSOE and PP confront their diagnoses
The socialist deputy Mónica Iglesias has questioned Nolasco's management and demanded concrete actions for dependent people, the elderly, those with disabilities, and families. "What is exactly your social policy, Mr. Nolasco?" she asked. She also questioned the "national priority," warning that requirements such as five years of residency can also harm Spaniards who move to Aragón for work reasons.
Iglesias added that more than 8,000 people continue to wait for a public or contracted place. "If a person leaves the list but does not receive the residential place they request, the problem has not been solved," she stressed.
From the PP, the evolution of social services has been supported with data from the reports of Imserso and the State Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services. The deputy Susana Gaspar has indicated that between August 2023 and August 2026, 11,839 additional dependency resolutions have been issued, there are 11,937 more people entitled to benefits, and 18,593 more benefits have been granted, while the average resolution time has decreased from 194 to 111 days.
Criticism from other groups on investment and the model
Izquierda Unida has censured the management of the Department and has denounced the existence of uncontracted youth centers, in addition to emphasizing that Aragón is below the state average in social spending per inhabitant. Its spokesperson, Marta Abengochea, has accused the Executive of betting on a "low-cost model" and has rejected the application of national priority.
Aragón-Teruel Existe has warned that greater administrative agility does not necessarily imply better service and has demanded a reinforcement of socio-healthcare attention in rural areas.
Chunta Aragonesista, for its part, has warned that about 300,000 people, 22 percent of the Aragonese population, are in a situation of social exclusion. Its spokesperson, Jorge Pueyo, has defended that social services must accompany anyone who needs them and has asked how national priority will be applied and how minors who must be transferred to Aragón will be attended to.
Vox has supported Nolasco's work and has defended that the principle of "national priority" must be integrated transversally into public policies. Its spokesperson, Santiago Morón, has maintained that resources should be directed preferentially to Spaniards and Aragonese and has called for greater control of social aid and the withdrawal of funds from NGOs linked, in his opinion, to illegal immigration.