"I will work from the very first day to ensure a capable, stable and lasting government", says Mariano Rajoy

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Following the second round of consultations held by King Felipe VI at Zarzuela Palace with representatives of the different parliamentary groups, Mariano Rajoy announced that the monarch has proposed him as the candidate for the Presidency of the Government and that he has accepted this commission. "I believe that this attitude is in line with what I have advocated during the whole course of this unfruitful period of interim politics", he stated.

The acting President of the Government recalled that ever since the elections were held back in December he has argued that the results require "an understanding to be reached between the pro-Constitution parties", who share a common position in defence of national unity, membership of the European Union and the fight against terrorism, as well as the aim of maintaining the economic recovery, job creation and our system of social protection.

Mariano Rajoy has welcomed the idea that this understanding, albeit limited, can now commence. "We are facing a clear and unambiguous consensus to avoid holding a third round of elections. This is something very important, which will have very positive consequences for Spain".

Dialogue and pacts

Pool Moncloa / Diego CrespoMariano Rajoy said that a minority government brings certain difficulties with it but that he will do everything in his hands to ensure that Spain has a government as soon as possible. "If anyone thought that my party and I would fall into the temptation of abandoning our responsibility towards Spain to vie for a tactical advantage, then they were mistaken".

The acting President of the Government guaranteed that, if he is finally invested, he will work "from the very first day to ensure that the government is capable, stable and lasting. I am aware that this will only be possible through dialogue and by forging pacts". He added.

In this regard, he described the decision adopted by the PSOE [Spanish Socialist Workers` Party] to allow the political stalemate to be unblocked and commence a new legislature as "reasonable and responsible", as is the support from Ciudadanos. He also acknowledged the merit and fortitude of the rank and file of his own party who, in his opinion, "have acted with responsibility, intelligence and moderation".

Mariano Rajoy added that he trusts that the 300 days of a caretaker government will come to an end this week and that "a new period will open up, based on dialogue, understanding and cooperation, rather than extremism". "Responsibility and commitment are the keywords that we will need to combine in the near future", he concluded.

"Insist on the issues that unite us"

Pool Moncloa / Diego CrespoWhen asked about the issues that will need to be discussed during the new legislature, Mariano Rajoy quoted, by way of example, the search for an education pact in Spain, pensions and regional financing.

"What is important is the intention to reach agreements, without anyone losing their political references - as you would expect - and I believe that our differences are not so great in the main. Hence, we can talk about many things, but we already agree on the fundamentals before we start, such as the unity of Spain, national sovereignty and the principle of equality among all Spaniards", he declared.

The acting President of the Government underlined his intention to "insist on the issues that unite us and to set aside those that divide us, or to make twice the effort to ensure that they no longer divide us". He added that his intention is for the legislature to last for four years.

As regards the names of those members of his next cabinet, Mariano Rajoy remarked that he has not yet decided. At any event, the first person to discover the composition of the new government will be His Majesty the King, "as established in the Constitution and, in my opinion, as common sense dictates", and "immediately afterwards", I will convey this to the press, he stated.