​ "This is the 8 March with the most women in work in our country ever", says Mariano Rajoy

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

Joan Tardà, MP for the ERC [Republican Left of Catalonia], asked about equality between men and women in today's Spain. Mariano Rajoy started his speech by "strongly" expressing his "outright" condemnation of violence perpetrated against women", since this is "the cruellest example of the lack of equality".

The President of the Government stressed that "steps are being taken in the right direction" to eliminate the gender gap in Spain. In his opinion, the legislation "is good", although the goal now is "to pull down de facto barriers".

In this regard, he underlined one figure, "This 8 March 2017 is the 8 March with the highest number of women in work in our country ever". He pointed out that this is "great news" and, although "there is still a long way to go", this should spur us on "to persevere in what we have achieved together in recent times".

According to the President of the Government, the figures show that "progress is being made". For example, just a year ago, female unemployment was growing at a rate of 9.64% whereas now it is dropping by 8.79% per annum. The rate of activity between men and women is also drawing closer: in 1987, the difference was 36 points; by 2017, this has fallen to only 11 points. And the same is happening with the wage gap: between 2009 and 2014, the difference between what men and women earn has fallen by three points.

Pacts for legislature

On behalf of Ciudadanos, Albert Rivera referred to the financing of political parties. In this regard, the President of the Government recalled that, in compliance with the agreements signed at the start of the legislature, "a committee on democratic quality" has already been set up to discuss, inter alia, the financing of political parties.

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoMariano Rajoy also underlined that "independent experts" who have appeared before this committee have pointed out that measures were taken "in the right direction" in the last legislature.

As regards the pact signed at the start of this legislature, the President of the Government pointed out that, after only "a few months of this legislature, a significant part of this pact" has already been complied with.

Evidence of that, he added, includes the "wonderful figures relating to job creation in our country". However, Mariano Rajoy recalled that there are still many issues to be addressed, such as long-term care, pensions and the stevedores. However, "the best thing would be for us to look to the future", he remarked.

Justice

Antonio Hernando, representing the Socialist Group, referred to the government's decisions on the issue of the appointment of new public prosecutors.

On this issue, the President of the Government stated that "action has been taken fully in line with the provisions of the public prosecution service in the event of disagreement between public prosecutors and their superiors".

He also underlined that these appointments are discretionary and "are made for a period of five years". Mariano Rajoy recalled the statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor in the Lower House and remarked that "this was sufficiently clear".

In addition to pointing out that "if there are defendants from my political party, this is because the public prosecution service has acted", he stated that "if we want to build a better future what we have to do is work on the creation of a sub-committee that will address the national justice strategy".