Mariano Rajoy remarks that respecting judicial rulings is a "basic obligation of any democracy"

Brussels

When asked by journalists about the declaration made by Artur Mas to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia as a defendant with regard to the consultation held on 9 November, the President of the Government stated that "Spain is a democracy" and that in democracies there is an executive power, a legislative power that controls it and a judicial power that ensures that the law is upheld. "And Mr Mas is under the same obligation to follow the law as any of the other 46 million Spaniards", he claimed.

Mariano Rajoy added that it is "our basic obligation and that of any democrat" to respect judicial decisions and that, if you do not agree with them, you can appeal. "We are talking about an issue of following the rules, the rules of co-existence, of liberty and of democracy", asserted the President of the Government, who also reminded Artur Mas that "justice is what guarantees his rights and liberties".

The President of the Government underlined that "threatening the courts with demonstrations is something absolutely unacceptable and improper in a democratic country like Spain".

He also argued that "justice in Spain is independent, it is resolved through the law and by applying the law", and pointed out that recently "people from different political forces and with different approaches have been summoned to ascertain whether they follow the law or not".

European Council

The President of the Government highlighted that the main issue to be tackled at the European Council on Thursday and Friday in Brussels is asylum and illegal immigration. On this issue, he pointed out that Spain will support the recognition of the right to asylum in the European Union.

Mariano Rajoy recalled that Spain will shortly send liaison officers to Italy to help determine the people that it will take in under the agreement on quotas reached in the EU. He also indicated that problems must be resolved in the countries of origin and hence avoid them taking place.

The President of the Government also announced that he will advocate the European Union making a major investment in Africa, of above one billion euros, to help countries on the continent combat poverty and improve their economies.

Other issues that may be tackled by the Heads of State and Government, according to the President of the Government, include the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and the economic and monetary union.