By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 10 Nov 2015 • 18:19
BLATANT DEFIANCE: Rajoy has said the decision to continue giving health cards is not for the regional government to make.
The health department in the province of Valencia continues to provide health cards for illegal immigrants, even though the constitutional court has temporarily suspended the Valencian law that guarantees health care to illegal aliens.
In an act of blatant defiance to the government in Madrid, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig has instructed health care centres to attend to everyone, following the law, which was reintroduced by his government and councillor for health, Caren Monton, as one of the very first changes made when the coalition party formed of PSOE, Compromis and Podemos, took office this year.
Mariano Rajoy has stated that this decision is not one for a regional government to take, critising Puig’s government for over reaching its powers.
When pressed by journalists on the issue Puig replied: “There are other ways to provide the service,” but gave no indication as to what they were. “No one can prevent us from internal solidarity,” he added.
The ministry of health has clarified the decision taken by the constitutional court, saying that it does not mean that illegal aliens will not be attended, but simply that they must apply though social service programmes. The court has declared that the issue of healthcare and other basic services is the responsibility of the state, not regional government.
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