The Minister of Family, Youth and Social Affairs of the Community of Madrid, Ana Dávila, reiterated this Thursday in the regional Assembly that the origin of a surname will never be a "requirement" to access public aid in the region, against the demands of Vox, which calls for policies "for Spaniards".
During the control session, Dávila pointed out to Vox deputy Javier Pérez Gallardo that the party is aware that the origin of Spaniards cannot be used as a criterion for granting benefits. "If not, can you explain to me how Ahmed Y., Mohammed M., Fátima B., or Ahmed H. obtained public housing in Extremadura in 2024 if you were in government?", she asked, in response to the parliamentarian's question about the equal opportunities for young people in Madrid in accessing public resources.
The minister stressed that governing does not consist of "launching slogans, nor pitting young people against each other, nor distributing aid according to the origin of a surname" and insisted that the regional Executive prioritizes "rootedness, integration, coexistence, and each person's contribution to society".
"Regardless of whether they are García or Pérez, or Conceiçao, Tersch or De Meer, like your national leaders, with foreign surnames, but I understand that for you they are as Spanish as Abascal," she added, alluding to Vox leaders with non-Spanish surnames.
Regarding specific measures aimed at youth, Dávila detailed that direct aid has been granted to more than 30,000 young mothers because for the Madrid government, supporting families "is a priority," and she also recalled that the Plan Vive has benefited 15,000 young people and families.
Likewise, she stressed to Vox that, in order to apply for birth aid, it is mandatory to be Spanish or have legal residency and have been registered for at least 5 years. "100% of this aid has been obtained by women with roots here. Furthermore, once granted, they must maintain their residency here," she emphasized.
For his part, Pérez Gallardo insisted on Vox's demand that administrations consider Spaniards first when there are "limited resources."
In this regard, he has denounced the alleged "traps" in the municipal register and has maintained that registration should not be "the key to giving one aid or another." "I believe we can put in place a series of mechanisms that truly ensure that our young people can really have that priority in aid," the deputy has defended.