Institutional speech by Toni Pérez "The Constitution is not the problem, it is the solution"

Julio Iglesias auditorium in l' Aigüera Park has hosted the act with which the city of Benidorm has commemorated the Spanish Constitution Day, with a capacity adapted to all safety measures against COVID-19.

The event, chaired by the mayor, Toni Pérez, was attended by the national and regional deputies, Agustín Almodóbar and Manuel Pérez Fenoll; and the General Director of Tourism of the Regional Goverment, Herick Campos. Councilors of the three municipal groups, members of the State Security Forces and Bodies and a broad representation of the civil society of Benidorm.

The celebration has served to pay tribute to the health and police services and all those of an essential nature for their work carried out during the lock down established by the State of Alarm, due to the health alert, in compliance with the municipal plenary agreement of 30 November, signed by all councilors.

On behalf of the honorees, the director of Benidorm Public Health Center of the Marina Baixa Health Department, Teresa Revilla, thanked the city of Benidorm for its recognition and, especially, “the effort made by the City Council” to mitigate the health crisis. Revilla has been hopeful because soon "we will be able to have a vaccine" that will help us overcome the current situation.

Mayor's institutional speech

Then, Toni Pérez, has read the institutional speech in which he has transferred "on behalf of the entire corporation and the entire town of Benidorm, condolences to the families of the victims of COVID-19." The mayor has insisted on the gratitude of the city towards "those who keep alive the flame of hope and the life of our city", honored on this day by the city and "all, inhabitants of Benidorm" who "have complied and are exemplary to end this pandemic ", referring especially" to the elderly, but also to our girls and boys, the future of Benidorm and this nation. "

Toni Pérez has opted for "renewing our commitment to the Magna Carta" on the forty-second anniversary of its promulgation. The mayor recalled that the Constitution "represents unity in diversity, and that the harmony and consensus of that time brought us the freedom and prosperity of today", highlighting "the good democratic system" that the country is experiencing today.

Faced with the “attempts” with which some seek to “weaken the constitutional framework”, the mayor has put in value the precepts of the 1978 Constitution that must continue to guide “the steps of this great nation that is Spain”, Pérez has made special emphasis that “the Constitution is not the problem. The Constitution is the solution ”. It is "our greatest common heritage", criticizing "honestly" the "situation of harassment to which it is being subjected in recent times."

Toni Pérez has detailed that the Magna Carta indicates that the parliamentary monarchy is the political form of the state. That the Constitution is "based on the indissoluble unity of the Spanish Nation." That "Castilian is the official Spanish language." And that the King is "Head of State" and "symbol of its unity and permanence." Aspects that today "are subjected to harassment in the sphere of politics."

The Constitution as a guarantee of coexistence

The mayor has reiterated that the Constitution "continues to guarantee our coexistence within the social and democratic state of law that, as a sovereign country, we gave ourselves" and has insisted that "it is not the problem, it is the solution" against those who try to modify articles such as those dealing with freedom of expression (art. 20); teaching (27); or the “independence of justice subject only to the rule of law” (117).

Finally, Toni Pérez, thanked the work carried out during the lockdown imposed by the State of Alarm by “people, groups and entities that have stood out for their dedication and tireless effort towards the population” that, at the local level, have been awarded today. The mayor has made an appeal "to all" so that "they never forget their obligation to the Constitution, to the country and to Spanish society" and has summoned citizens to an upcoming celebration of "much more harmony and joy" to continue to ensure "the health of our people and working for Benidorm so that, once again, it is the homeland of happiness, the best ambassador for tourism and, through it, the Spain Brand".

Tribute to institutions and entities

Before his institutional speech, Toni Pérez, greeted the representatives of each of the institutions and entities honored and handed them a diploma of recognition. The first to receive it has been Benidorm Local Police, represented by the chief commissioner, Juan Fuertes and the officer José Llorca Pérez. Behind them, the National Police Corps, represented by the chief commissioner, Ceferino Serrano; the Traffic the Civil Guard, by its chief, Juan Isidro Palomares; the Marina Baixa Firefighters Consortium, by the officer Santiago Rivera and sergeant, Jaime Llorca; Command of Special Operations, by the General Brigadier , Raimundo Rodríguez; Military Emergency Unit (UME), by Lieutenant Colonel Olaf Clavería; Civil Protection, by the head of the Association, José Fuster: Social Services of the City Council, by Dolores Lillo and Elisa Piqueres; Municipal Technical Services, by Jerónimo Llinares and Batiste Rostoll; Official and labor body of the City Council, by the president of the Personnel Board, Francisco Ángel González and by the president of the Company Committee, Eduardo Martín; Municipal Road Cleaning Service, by the coordinator Matías Romá and Isabel Calvo; Municipal cleaning service, by the general manager, Santiago Baeza-Rojano and the president of the works committee, of OHL-Ingesan, Vicenta Pérez; Municipal Drinking Water Service ETAP Benidorm, by the head of production, Marina Hernández and by the production operator of Hidraqua, Sebastián Galiano: Comprehensive Management Service of Beaches of Benidorm, RA Benidorm, by Miguel Ángel Díaz-Regañón and Lázaro Miras; Auto-Taxi Benidorm Public Service, by its president José Antonio Gómez and by the secretary of Radio Taxi Benidorm, Isabel Fernández; Avanza- Llorente Bus, by the chief of operations, Juan Carlos Gonzaga; Caritas Diocesana, by the priest Pedro Crespo and Paula Mota; Red Cross, by the president of its Local Committee, Mara Martínez and by Vicente Fernández; Benidorm Residence and Day Center for Dependent Elderly People, by the psychologist Montserrat García; and Ciudad Patricia Senior Resort complex, by Bárbara Acevedo.

Likewise, the work of the companies accredited for the provision of Anneke Home Help Service has also been recognized, by its director Duly Estruch and the administrator Lisette de Leeuw; Atentia, by Josefa Llinares and Alfonso Vílches; Dandelion, by Nadal Pérez and Andrés Savall; Marinasa, by Pilar Moreno and Amanda, Fuentes; Nos Importas, by Vicente Saval and Dolores Guardiola; Proega, by Luis Moreno; IMED Levante Hospital; by its medical director, Brunño Meola and by the director of nursing, Elena López: Hospital Clínica Benidorm, by the international director of HCB, Ava Vasbinder and by the deputy to the general management, Eduardo Manuel Burguero; the delegation in Benidorm of the Official College of Pharmacists of Alicante, by Iván Quart; Visit Benidorm Foundation, by Leire Bilbao; Red de Ayuda Collectiva (RAC) of Benidorm, by the volunteers Rubén González and Rita Arnaudas; and, finally, the  Health Department of the Marina Baixa, represented by the director of Benidorm Public Health Center, Teresa Revilla.