President Luis Abinader granted this Wednesday the Dominican nationality by way of privileged naturalization to the former president of the Spanish government Felipe González Márquez, for being a fighter for the strengthening of relations between Spain and Latin America and, in particular, with the Dominican Republic for his love for the Dominican people.
The head of state considered that González Márquez gave dignity to thousands of Dominicans by favoring them at the beginning of 1990 with their regularization.
“You are, without a doubt, dear Felipe, one more Latin American, a son of this land. And from today, a Dominican with whom I feel honored to share the same identity card,” said the President. He added that “thanks to you and the policies developed during your governments, the Dominican diaspora found the support it needed with the enactment in 1985 of the first Law on Foreigners, with which Spain paid attention to the unprecedented phenomenon of migratory flows”.
These statements were offered by President Abinader in the Las Cariátides hall of the National Palace, while giving a speech during the act of granting the naturalization of the former president of the Spanish government, Felipe González.
“These values, with which we Dominicans feel fully identified, as well as the efforts made for the strengthening of relations between Spain and Latin America and, especially with the Dominican Republic, are some of the reasons that we believe make him worthy of the Privileged Naturalization that we are granting him today,” said the president.
According to the head of state, thanks to González’s determination, today the Dominican Republic has a thriving Dominican community in Spain, which is recognized in its essence, which interacts bidirectionally with the Spanish people, “and which serves as a bridge between two sister nations, whose exceptional relations could not be better”.
The Dominican leader said that Dominicanity is a feeling that is demonstrated in the actions of each one of us, “in the vision of the country we have, of the future we want to build for all of us”. “But, above all, Dominicanity is that which we find, thanks to our people, in every corner of the world, and it is that which welcomes with open arms the new Dominicans who, like you, Felipe, have given unequivocal proof of their love for our land,” said Abinader.
On his side Felipe González said that no distinction moves him more than receiving the Dominican nationality and because he considers him just another citizen, “it is hard for me to express the gratitude I feel,” said González.
“I am very grateful not only for the immense distinction that you are making to give me nationality in the sense that you have expressed, which is that of citizenship, and to accept a package of rights and obligations,” said the former Spanish president.
He emphasized that in his 60 years of political activity, 40 of them have been of continuous relationship with the country, he also stressed that there are many links he has had with the country and that he has always been available for the Dominican Republic.
He emphasized that one of the best achievements of President Luis Abinader has been his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing certainty to the Dominican people.
The President’s disposition is contained in Decree 42-22, issued on February 2 of this year, and which was read by the legal consultant of the Executive Branch, Antoliano Peralta.
Friendship with José Francisco Peña Gómez
Regarding this issue, he highlighted the deep friendship that he cultivated for many years with José Francisco Peña Gómez, “he is one of the fixed images that the Dominican people always remember”. He valued that both shared militancy, a vision of the future and of the country in which there was no room for anything other than “people first”.
“And that is the greatest legacy that both of you have left to our new generations of politicians and rulers, those of us who understand that solidarity, economic development with social justice, equality and equity between men and women, freedom and the consolidation of democracy are the basic pillars by which we must be governed,” said President Abinader.
The President was accompanied by Vice President Raquel Peña; the ministers of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza; of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez; of Culture, Milagros Germán; of Public Works, Deligne Ascención; the legal advisor of the Executive Branch, Antoliano Peralta; the presidents of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella, of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco; of the Constitutional Court, Milton Ray Guevara and of the Social Cabinet of the Presidency, Tony Peña Guaba.
Also, the ambassador of Spain, Antonio Pérez Hernández and his wife Pilar Lladó; the consul of Spain, Pablo Gómez de Alea and his wife, María Enríquez de Luna, among other officials.
