The national deputy secretary for Economy of the Partido Popular, Juan Bravo, has defended this Saturday in Melilla the implementation of a ten-year strategic plan for the city, in order to address its main shortcomings and offer a framework of stability for both residents and private investors.
During his remarks, Bravo stressed that "when Melilla is defended, when Ceuta is defended, Spain is being defended," insisting that any political or economic initiative must be aimed at improving the population’s quality of life.
The 'popular' leader, who has recalled his personal ties to Melilla by pointing out that his mother lived in the city, has focused his message on the economic proposals that the Partido Popular puts forward for the territory.
Among the measures he has put on the table is the push for the construction of new housing, with the objective of responding to the demand from people in Melilla and from key groups such as the Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado, doctors, and the rest of the healthcare personnel.
Bravo has also called for a tax cut and for the elimination of bureaucratic obstacles that, in his view, hinder economic development, with special attention to the situation of self-employed workers.
At this point, he has demanded that Spain adopt the same conditions as other European partners in the VAT franchise up to 85,000 euros, a measure which, as he has indicated, would benefit almost three and a half million self-employed workers.
"We are not asking for anything different, but we are paying money every day in fines for not applying it and, however, we are not giving our self-employed workers those possibilities," he has denounced.
The PP’s economic spokesperson has stressed that Melilla needs more than isolated actions. For this reason, he has explained that his party, together with the president of the Ciudad Autónoma, Juan José Imbroda, and the PP’s national leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, is preparing a document that brings together, in an orderly manner, the city’s needs and strategic projects.
According to Bravo, the purpose is to have a plan that sets out the commitments of the Partido Popular for the next decade, with measures in the short, medium and long term, and that serves to coordinate public investment with initiatives already underway by the private sector.
"We want a project, and the president has asked for one like this, a project so that you can know what the Partido Popular is going to do and the response that President Imbroda will have with all of his team for the next ten years," he has underlined.
Bravo has maintained that the events of the last few months have shown the strategic relevance of Melilla and Ceuta, and he has called for a specific plan for both by the central Executive.
The 'popular' leader has also criticized the management of the last eight years, which he has described as a stage of "paralysis" and "confrontation," and he has accused the central Government of having punished Melilla for being governed by the Partido Popular.
"It has been one of paralysis, of confrontation, of little affection and, as President Imbroda, if they allow me, of punishment to Melilla for being from the PP," he has said, before appealing to the need to rebuild bridges of dialogue and cooperation in order to shape a project for the country that addresses all territories.
Likewise, he has expressed his confidence that, if the residents of Melilla support the Partido Popular, the change that, in his view, the city requires can take place. The national deputy secretary for Economy has closed his address by reiterating his party's commitment to Melilla and assuring that the initiatives put forward must be translated into tangible results for citizens over the next ten years.