The PSOE in Torrevieja would like to introduce the first 5 members of their team facing the elections in May, under the leadership of new mayoral candidate, Bárbara Soler.
Bárbara Soler stated that she was very proud of the team formed: “there are many synergies. Each one has been working together with the others to achieve a responsible and innovative political project for Torrevieja” and for this reason, she has decided to present the profiles of five of them: Margarita de Francisco, Sergio Ros, Laura Corrales, Javier González and Julia Maeso.
Margarita de Francisco, who occupies the fourth place in the socialist candidacy, has a degree in Technical Assistant in Administration and Commerce, as well as a Technical Training Course in Gender Equality given by the Instituto Europeo de Formación, and training in Gastronomic Tourism and culinary culture of the Valencian Community at the University of Alicante. She has extensive work experience developed in Madrid in a multi-brand company, where she worked for over 15 years in the Operations Department, managing multiple actions of their brands and collaborations in other departments such as Training and Marketing. Currently, she works in a company in our city being responsible for several hospitality businesses. “Hospitality is a fundamental sector for Torrevieja and we politicians have the obligation to protect and promote it”. Born in Madrid, she started visiting Torrevieja at the end of the 80s. But it was not until 2006 when she was able to fulfil one of her personal objectives, which was to move to Torrevieja permanently, as she has always felt very connected to our city and the way of life we have here. Her hobbies include cycling and enjoying nature, especially in the Natural Park of Las Lagunas. She is currently a member of the Regional Executive Committee of the PSOE in the Vega Baja, and is responsible for the Secretariat of the Fight against Gender Violence, from which she works to provide guidelines to eradicate this scourge. Finally, in Torrevieja, she has collaborated with different feminist groups, carrying out awareness-raising and educational activities, especially with the reports of sexist murders. “The participation of women in politics is necessary and fundamental in order to fill the gaps it has had due to the lack of a female perspective. This implies the involvement of all general policies and measures with the specific purpose of achieving equality and Bárbara represents that necessary change in the incursion of women in our municipal politics and in decision making with that feminist perspective that is so lacking here. In addition, she has surrounded herself with a competent and responsible team to promote a new stage of development for Torrevieja”.
Sergio Ros, who is in 13th place on the list, studied at the IES Mare Nostrum of Torrevieja and at the University of Alicante has studied a degree in History. He is currently expecting the birth of a baby girl next July. His professional career has been linked to the work face-to-face to the public as a clerk in different establishments in the area. He was one of the young people who began his political participation with the 15M movement. “At that time, there was a need for new politics. Now I believe that Barbara, in many aspects, has the best of that 15M”. Later, she founded the Youth Association La Comarca as a way to work for Torrevieja from the associationism. This association has tried to make visible the problems and needs of young people, in addition to providing an alternative entertainment offer that was nonexistent in our city. Sergio has been President of the Red Cross Youth, during which time the hospitalized children program was launched. In addition, it is closely linked to the Holy Week in Torrevieja and is costalero in the Brotherhood of the Nazarene. “My main motivation is to help the youth of Torrevieja, especially those who suffer harassment and bullying, as it is a problem that must be eradicated from schools and we have an obligation to do everything possible to make visible this problem that is often silenced.”
The eighth on the PSOE list is Laura Corrales, a graduate in Psychology from the University of the Basque Country who is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Neuropsychology at the International University of Valencia. She currently works in a local department store. She has worked in a senior centre in Irun (Guipuzcoa). During her time at university, she did volunteer work, both physical and mental, in a centre for dependent people, as well as in Gehitu, an association whose aim is to achieve full recognition of fundamental rights for LGBTI people, as well as to put an end to all legal and social discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. She was a student at the Cuba School and Mare Nostrum High School in Torrevieja. In addition, she defines herself as passionate about sports and was in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club of Torrevieja and has practiced athletics and Crossfit, among others. Therefore, one of her goals is to support the sports community in our city. “Sport is a very powerful tool to help people physically and mentally and we must promote a diverse offer so that all people can find that discipline in which they feel more fulfilled, especially more inclusive options that take into account the needs of dependent people, both for seniors and during childhood.” Laura has affirmed that she believes in a different politics; more open, more real, more of the people and their daily problems and that this is her main reason for accompanying Bárbara Soler in the socialist candidacy.
Javier González, is also part of the socialist candidacy and is in 24th place. He has a degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Basel (Switzerland) and speaks six languages, including German, English and French. He is currently director of international expansion in the agricultural sector. Javier was born in Galicia, raised and educated in Switzerland, began to summer in Torrevieja during his adolescence, when he fell in love with our city, to which he moved permanently in 2000. “Since then I thought that Torrevieja is the best place to live in the world, because of the weather, but above all because of the closeness of the people who made it very easy for me to integrate into the life of the city”. Javier likes to define himself as a tireless traveller, since he knows more than 50 countries, including places like China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Colombia or Pakistan. He is also passionate about the sea, the sun, sports in general and especially diving, kitesurfing, skiing, cycling…. And of course, a soccer fan! His left-wing values were instilled by his father, a communist militant in his hometown. “Now I would like to give back to Torrevieja a little of what it has given to me, trying to make Torrevieja a closer city, open, plural and above all accessible to all as it was for me”.
And finally, Julia Maeso that from the 21st position, wanted to join the socialist project in the city of Torrevieja. Julia is a retired nurse and has been settled permanently in our city since 2014. She has been linked to the PSOE since democracy was restored in Spain and has held various positions, both at the organic and public level, in Castilla la Mancha, where she is originally from. She developed her professional career in health centres of the Provincial Council of Toledo, such as the General Hospital and in areas such as psychiatry and maternity. In addition, she was president of an association for the elderly in Toledo. Currently, she is a member of a group related to Brugada Syndrome, a rare but potentially serious heart rhythm disorder, from which she offers support to people suffering from this pathology. Her main hobby is traveling around Spain to see all the wonders that our country has to offer. Julia considers that “healthcare is a very important issue for all citizens and cannot be used for partisan politics or manipulated with the aim of scraping a few votes. From the PSOE we advocate for a public health model that is better every day”. In addition, she considers that “the elderly deserve an administration that takes us into account and that promotes a model of active aging and healthy leisure alternatives for all of us. We must also prevent the so-called Digital Divide, which makes it difficult for many older people to carry out bureaucratic procedures or access the aid to which they are entitled due to the lack of support in using the latest technologies”.
Bárbara Soler wanted to thank them for their commitment not only for these elections, but for the entire legislature. “We have proposed to create the political project that will transform Torrevieja and we will do it” concluded the socialist candidate.
