The acting President of the Government and candidate for re-election, Pedro Sánchez, has announced that from January 1 of next year, public transport will be free for minors, young people and unemployed people, thus extending one of the measures applied by administrations to combat the rise in fuel prices as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sanchez made this announcement in the investiture debate being held in the Congress of Deputies and which will likely end tomorrow with his re-election by an absolute majority. In the debate, the PSOE candidate also announced that the Executive will extend the VAT reduction on food until June 2024.

The acting head of the Executive has also announced that in the coming months the average income threshold will be raised from the current 30,000 euros to 38,000 euros so that more families can benefit from the mortgage relief measures in force, that is, the freezing of the monthly payment for one year and the extension of the repayment period up to seven years. At the same time he has promised to increase the rental bonus.

In labor matters, the candidate for the investiture has also reviewed the points included in the agreement between the PSOE and Sumar and has listed them such as the 37-hour work week, the Workers’ Statute or updating the minimum wage up to 60%. of the average salary in Spain.

Among other issues, Sánchez has also committed to continuing to revalue pensions based on the CPI, to simplify administrative procedures and, in particular, to establish by law a maximum period of 30 days to respond to requests for benefits such as those for dependency.

Sánchez has also committed to approving a State pact on mental health to promote the number of psychologists and psychiatrists in public centers and guarantee that “there is not a single citizen who needs psychological help and cannot obtain it.”

In the field of health, the candidate has also committed to launching, with the autonomous governments that wish, a plan to achieve a drastic reduction in waiting lists. And he has advanced that primary care will be strengthened, expanding the portfolio of public services to include oral and ophthalmological treatments for young people.

In terms of equality, the President of the Government has announced that the next executive will approve a law on equal representation that “helps break glass ceilings.” “For every euro that a reactionary government withdraws against domestic violence, the Government will put in 10,” he said. In this same area, the socialist leader has explained, as appears in the agreement with Sumar, that birth leave will be extended to 20 weeks and public education will be universalized from the age of two. In addition, single-parent families with two children will be equal to the protection of large families.

The leader of the PSOE has also made an announcement about violence against minors by ensuring that the crimes of aggression and abuse of minors will not prescribe.

In promoting the ecological transition, the socialist candidate has announced the reestablishment of the National Energy Commission suppressed by the PP, the approval of a family farming law to promote ecological agriculture, and has committed to promoting the deployment of renewable energies and the fight against the threat of drought.

In the field of Culture, the president has announced that the new government will approve a Cultural Rights Law that “guarantees the access of all people and all territories to culture”, as well as the maintenance of the youth cultural bonus, direct aid of 400 euros to those who turn 18 to acquire and enjoy cultural products and activities.

To reduce the differences that exist between provinces and strengthen territorial cohesion, Sánchez has committed to assuming a part of the debt that all the Autonomous Communities contracted during the PP stage.

And as was already known, it has been announced that “in defense of harmony” an amnesty will be granted to those prosecuted during the process. “It is perfectly legal and in accordance with the Constitution,” he defended.

In international politics, Sánchez has assured that the new government will work in Europe and Spain to recognize the Palestinian State, while calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip and rejecting “the indiscriminate killing of civilians.” And he has condemned the Hamas attacks against Isarel and has demanded the release of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by the jihadist organization. Likewise, he has asserted that his government will continue to support Ukraine “until the last Russian soldier leaves a country that wants to be free.”