Presidente
Publicado el: 03/04/2017

As happens year after year, the previous year always seems so far away, and this is especially the case of 2015, which ended in general elections in Spain on 21st December and which proved fruitless. The first six months of 2016 were intense with the United Kingdom’s referendum voting in favour of leaving the European Union and a second general election here on 26th June, which seems to have curtailed the chances of an extreme left-wing government in Spain. We were at risk, although it has not been fully averted, and at the mercy of our politicians’ ability to form a coalition, of Spain becoming the first country in the world to democratically elect a new-style communist government.

Political pressure should not be used to block this process. Hence the need, for so many reasons, for collective responsibility. An advanced society with so many achievements to its name should not gamble with its own model and the bedrock of a thousand-year old civilisation ingrained to the bone, or to the very marrow, as the socialist Indalecio Prieto said of Spain in his time.

That transition, however, discussed to excess, by knowing no bounds and becoming worthless, has led to an excess of jurisdictions, organisations and powers, which, being able to take different, contrary and even contradictory decisions simultaneously on the same matters and people, has broken not only political structures, but also the proclaimed constitutional equality of all Spanish citizens. We are dispersed.

Spain was and is once more an uncertain blueprint.

It has been said since time immemorial that finding out about the teleology of things, the reason why they happen, is essential. It has taken us a long time to build a middle class, the synovial fluid that lubricates our society. And this class, to the delight of the anti-system supporters who would like to see it proletarianised and turned into a political machine, has been mistreated precisely because it does not usually cause a threat and is easily identifiable, even down to its obligatory tax contributions.

Once again, the same old story has been bandied about concerning the public and the private sector, and not for reasons of efficacy and efficiency, but because of ideology. It seems that experience counts for nothing and the same old dogmas are upheld, regarding economic policies too, in the face of a devastating reality, which involves the voluntary business association to mutual societies and its favourable consequences. In 2015 our Mutual Society contributed 887 million Euros to the Public Treasury, by undertaking new missions and coverage and supporting vital retirement pension payments with its savings.

Our hospital and care centre facilities are worth visiting. The treatments that are given, using the latest equipment, by dedicated professionals, proven results are at the forefront of this reality that stretches back over more than one hundred years, with 20 institutions that cover the whole of the country, are the epitome of Jacobin egalitarianism.

The Mutual Societies Act came into effect on 1st January 2015, whose statutory effect remains to be seen. The law failed to cover several difficult aspects; absenteeism, mitigated by the economic crisis, was in need of efficient, fair measures so that it would not be an issue once more, as has in fact occurred. It is simply a question of giving each his due.

The role our Mutual Societies play, so often ignored, should be proclaimed. In 2015 the voluntary association of companies to Mutual Societies in different sectors reached:

· Professional contingencies: 1,439,577 associated companies (3% Increase 2015) and market share of 98.37%.

· Common contingencies: 1,210,787 associated companies (3.75% increase 2015) and market share of 83.11%.

Mutua Universal continues its extremely favourable journey as can be seen from the audio-visual and the Annual Report.

Publicado el: 03/04/2017

The work carried out is praiseworthy and has established Mutua Universal as a model of a traditional and at the same time modern company. The Managing Director, the different levels of its management team and employees are an example of dedication and success.

Publicado el: 03/04/2017

Last year’s result has enabled us to maintain optimal rates of liquidity and solvency, favouring the financial independence of the Company. Both the net equity (€433.99m), which makes up 81.27% of our liabilities, and our financial accounts (€324.61m), which represent 60.79% of our assets, are good examples of the liquidity and solvency of the organization.

Returning to our major areas, we can say that Spain is our great framework for action and we do not wish to see it diminish. It is being exemplary in its way out of its crisis, the global crisis, even though we may fancy it is insufficient and slow.

It is however undeniable that the increase in GDP has been 3.2%, the highest since 2007, doubling the Eurozone average.

Private consumption, at 3%, is the highest since 2006. Economic growth has meant a 3.2% increase in new jobs with the number of people affiliated to the Social Security reaching 17 million. The unemployment rate remains high, however, affecting nearly five million people, most of them young. Technological changes of all kinds, the swiftness and depth of these changes, require unprecedented measures in which we all participate and to which we are all committed in the face of the growing condition of structural unemployment. The increase in the service sector and sharp drop in construction cannot be ignored. Tourism, with 68.1 million visitors, an increase of 4.9%, is the sector of our economy which has seen the most growth. The tourism GDP increased by 3.7%, and contributed 0.5% to the total increase in GDP, registering €124,000m.

And because everything is tied together and conditioned by everything else in this globalised world, a reference to Brexit seems unavoidable. Previously, referendums always seemed to us to be a sign of failure and a pretence of true democracy. Referendums used to be subtle forms of authoritarianism and now they are also a sign of assemblyism.

They used to be held when they were sure of being won or on topics so futile it mattered little who won.

But Mr Cameron holds them on all-important issues, which affect not only voters but everyone else, and what is more, he loses them. The English will be able to make him pay for it, but what about the rest of us who are affected?

After the debacle, the search for the model for Britain’s standing with the EU is more difficult. The Swiss, Norwegian, Canadian models. But it is not the same thing to apply a formula to a country that was never part of the EU, as it is to one which slammed the door when it left. Carrying on, with treaties, as if they never left may be what the leaver would strive for but it cannot be satisfactory for those who have remained.

To finish, on a more personal note.

The exceptional circumstances that have affected Mutua Universal since 1st August 2007 and which are in the hands of the relevant legal channels are common knowledge. For this reason, it is vital and praiseworthy that we carry on working as an example of a traditional and at the same time modern Mutual Society. The Managing Director, the management team at every level, and our employees, are an example of dedication and success. The very satisfactory membership to AMAT, its relationship with other mutual societies and with public administrations, in particular with the General Management of Social Security Planning may be termed exemplary.

At Mutua Universal there are also unseen bodies that carry out essential, important work. Such are the Control and Monitoring and Special Cover Commissions, examples of loyal and joint practice.

Finally, I would like to say under my breath to those who almost incomprehensibly make up the Board of Directors, to my colleagues, that I cannot give you all the thanks you deserve, as to do so might curb their sense of adventure and unfathomable altruism.

Thank you all very much.

Publicado el: 02/05/2017

In 2015 mutual societies contributed 887 million euros to the Public Treasury, undertaking new missions and coverage, and supporting vital retirement pension payments with their savings.