On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, an event many called historic took place in the Congress of Spain. All 346 deputies present voted in favor of a decree allocating 500 million euros to fund the support system for people suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This decision marked a rare moment of unity in the parliament, where sharp disagreements and mutual accusations are usually the norm.
Political differences and an unexpected consensus
Despite the unanimous vote, the decree sparked criticism during the debate. Opposition parties, particularly the Partido Popular (PP) and VOX, voiced their discontent with the government for allegedly using such an important initiative for political gain and delaying its implementation for almost a year after the relevant law was passed. Meanwhile, Junts deputies reminded the chamber that their demands had been a key condition for supporting Pedro Sánchez’s candidacy for prime minister.
The Ministry of Social Rights, which played a central role in drafting this decree, highlighted the efforts of public organizations that had pushed for this decision throughout the year. Still, even on this day the government was criticized for its slow response and lack of transparency in distributing funds and establishing criteria for assistance.
New support measures and funding structure
The adopted decree provides not only for additional funding, but also for a reform of the care system for seriously ill patients. In particular, a new category has been introduced for especially complex cases, access to round-the-clock support is being expanded, and the maximum amount of monthly assistance for families may reach nearly 10,000 euros. These measures are expected to significantly ease the lives of patients and their families, who have faced years of resource shortages and bureaucratic hurdles.
Minister of Social Rights Pablo Bustinduy noted that the total budget for supporting dependent citizens in 2025 will reach a record 3.7 billion euros, 15% more than two years ago. At the same time, part of the funds will be distributed through autonomous communities, which has raised additional questions among some deputies about transparency and spending efficiency.
Public reaction and next steps
Representatives of patient associations, who had campaigned actively for the adoption of the decree throughout the year, were present in the chamber. Special attention was paid to the president of the ConELA organization, Fernando Martín, who has become a symbol in the fight for the rights of ALS patients and their families.
Despite the generally positive mood, some deputies—especially from Junts—voiced doubts that all promised measures would be fully implemented and within the stated timeframes. They recalled that many families have already lost loved ones before receiving help, and called for the faster introduction of the new rules and payments.
In the end, the vote concluded with unanimous support for the decree, marking a rare display of unity in Spanish politics. Lawmakers from across the spectrum set aside their differences, if only temporarily, for a common goal — improving the lives of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
