Every system, in this case that of insurance companies, and more specifically our insurance company, performs within a framework and according to certain circumstances. The framework and circumstances of 2016 have been exceptional due to the profusion of political events in Spain and in the rest of the world, the evolution of the economy emerging from one of the worst recessions ever and the dramatic upsurge in a terrorism that knows no borders and that has deep but unspecified roots in each nation. An international terrorism, carried out by people born in European countries and potentially incalculable in number and virtually impossible to identify.

The political situation in Spain over the past 40 years has played out without much unrest. The Political Reform Law, passed on 18 November 1976, and approved by a large majority in a Referendum on 15 December 1976 (with 94% of people voting in favour) paved the way for the first general elections and to a Constitution which also received overwhelming public support on 6 December 1978.

And on the foundations of the somewhat twisted and ambiguous texts of the Constitution, and which has now become evident in the secessionist crisis, the two largest parties, the conservative and the socialist, in the absence of a great constitutional agreement, have taken turns to govern, on many occasions thanks to the support of the so-called nationalist parties. This support garnered either out of necessity or parliamentary convenience, has had a marked effect on the political situation, with the regional governments being rewarded for their loyalty through articles 148, 149 and 150.2 of the Constitution. As a consequence, often by giving to some and conceding to others, over and above the Constitution, has led to the progressive loss of Spanish sovereignty, as the legal representative of all the people of Spain, the awareness of a Spanish nation and of the concept of true equality among Spaniards.

In the political sphere it took two general elections, one in December 2015 and another in June 2016, and in the interim an acting government over 315 days, before a minority government was finally formed in October 2016 by the People’s Party, through outright support and abstentions. Prior to that, there was one rejected attempt at investiture, the Socialist’s Party’s failure to secure support and two further attempts before Mariano Rajoy finally succeeded in gathering the support he required to become President.

Likewise, in the Autonomous Communities, 9 January saw the veto and resignation of the President of the Catalan Government; on 25 September the elections in Galicia gave victory to the People’s Party with an overall majority, and in the Basque Country the Basque National Party won the elections there.

Meanwhile, it is a fact to point out that on 1 August, the Constitutional Court voted unanimously to suspend the resolution of the Parliament of Catalonia’s road map independence.

In the international arena, on 23 June the United Kingdom voted in favour of Brexit, and in doing so took the decision to leave the European Union, which led to the resignation of the Prime Minister and the appointment of Theresa May as his successor on 13 July.

In the United States, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, was elected President on 8 November, on a programme of economic protectionism, tax cuts, mass investments and a certain degree of distancing from Europe regarding defence treaties.

And alongside all these events, as if it was a free spirit totally disconnected, the economy continues its recovery, although this fact is questioned and still refuted by ideological sectarianism, ignoring the fact that the favourable evolution of the economies, including the Spanish, is not based on chance but by the fulfilment of essential conditions to that effect, such as:

1. Significant growth of GDP with prices remaining consistent for over a year.
2. Steady growth in demand.
3. Neither deflation nor high inflation.
4. Maintenance of stability in the balance of payments.
5. Creation of jobs.

In the light of these conditions, the Spanish economy’s response has been the following:

GDP growth  

3.2% 2015 and 2016

2.8%    2017 forecast

Growth has been steady, and although tourism has reached 11%, the exports of goods and services make up 33% of the total GDP.

Prices have remained stable over an unusually long period of time, and the current account balance of payments has shown a surplus over the last three years. The rhythm at which new jobs are created reached 2.9% in 2016, with 18 million workers affiliated to the Social Security, and an unemployment rate of 18.6%: still high, but below the levels of the last seven years (27.2% in 2013).

Unemployment, which continues to hit hard, and precarious working conditions, remain two of the greatest problems in our society, and would seem to be here for the long haul, given the dizzying pace of technological innovations.

The crisis has been mitigated by the emergence of the figure of the self-employed worker, who deserves to be recognised, institutionalised and protected.

The figure of the self-employed worker is neither circumstantial nor temporary, and tends to be exemplary by nature. They contribute economically, ease social pressures brought about by unemployment, use their worker’s rights responsibly and averts feelings of personal failure.

The share of companies associated with insurance companies on the market is 98.42% and that of protected workers stands at 96.25%, as many as 13,365,627 people. No institution can present such a high degree of economic and social acceptance or example of collaboration between the public and private sectors.