National
More electoral promises ahead of the national poll in Spain next month
By m.p.
Feb 12, 2008 - 10:39 PM

Tuesday saw more electoral promises from the two main parties vying for the government of Spain in the general election which takes place on 9th March.

The Partido Popular say they will reduce surgical waiting lists to no longer than 30 days, as part of a policy to increase the quality of health care in all Spanish regions. It came with a commitment in the first year of government to reduce waiting time down to 45 days in regions like Cantabria, where the average is currently 146 days, EFE said.

Another measure announced by the opposition’s secretary for social policies, Ana Pastor, who was Health Minister under the previous PP government led by José María Aznar, is to make dental care available to all ages of the population. It would be introduced progressively over an eight year period, starting with children and the over 65s.
They also propose a national pact for health involving all political parties, professionals in the sector, and other concerned parties.

The governing Socialist party has meanwhile promised child benefit support to another 400,000 families, with an announcement from the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to raise the income ceiling for the benefit, which would then make it available to a total of 1 million families.

Speaking from Toledo, the Prime Minister gave the breakdown as 500 € a year for every child under the age of three for families with an income of less than 15,000 €. He said the ceiling would increase to 20,000 € in the case of numerous families, and in both cases, the annual benefit would be 300 € per child every year after three years old until the age of 18. The current ceilings are 11,000 € and 16,221 € respectively, according to figures quoted by Público newspaper.
The annual amount would be 1,000 € for handicapped children.

Other promises were increasing paternity leave up to 4 weeks, the right to a reduced working day until the child reaches the age of 12, and more school places for the under threes.

The Prime Minister in Toledo on Tuesday. Photo – EFE.