"There is no alternative to the law because Spain is a democracy", says Mariano Rajoy

Leon

During his speech at the Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, the President of the Government described this basilica as "emblematic" of a city that "knows how to look after its historical quarter, its traditions and its dazzling architectural and artistic wealth" and is "an exceptional demonstration that Leon is part of Spain's history".

As part of this history, Mariano Rajoy referred to the importance of the 1188 Decrees, resulting from the King's Court called that year by King Alfonso IX of Leon, which was included by UNESCO in 2013 in the Memory of the World Registry as "documentary proof of the oldest parliamentary system we are aware of".

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoThe President of the Government highlighted the current validity of the 1188 Decrees, made up of 17 statutes that sketch out the protection provided by what are nowadays considered to be the fundamental rights of individuals. "They reflect something as important as all being subject to the law, starting with King Alfonso IX. And everyone being subject to the law and to the rule of law is the fundamental requirement of any democracy worthy of that name".

This documentary heritage also exemplifies that Parliament "is the sacred temple of democracy", the place where "laws are enacted that are incumbent on us all, liberate us all and make us all equal", he said.

Normality in Catalonia

The President of the Government said that "precisely the lack of respect for the law and an attempt to oppose democracy" by some governors in Catalonia "has caused a tremendous crisis that has forced us to use the instruments available under the Constitution to defend itself".

He also pointed out the three goals that must be achieved in this autonomous region "in the near future": the imposition of common sense, respect for the law and the recovery of institutional, economic and social normality. There is no alternative to the law because Spain is a democracy", he stressed.

AVE to Asturias

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoOne day after presiding the start up of the service on the high-speed railway line between Valencia and Castellón, Mariano Rajoy reaffirmed the government's commitment to high-speed travel and recalled that Spain is the second ranked country in the world, behind only China, in this type of infrastructure.

The President of the Government pointed out, firstly, that the works to connect the railway line in Leon will be concluded by the end of this year, and hence the travel time from Madrid to Asturias will be cut by 15 to 20 minutes; in addition to this improvement there will be an additional reduction of 10 minutes when the implementation of the ERTMS management and signalling system is completed.

Secondly, Mariano Rajoy announced that the tenders for various works on the stretch between Leon and La Robla will be published on Wednesday in the Official State Gazette, "which means providing continuity to the AVE project to Asturias". The works include the renewal of the line, the implementation of mixed gauge track, the removal of level crossings and improved drainage.

Cybersecurity

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoThe President of the Government began his visit to Leon by visiting the installations of the National Cybersecurity Institute (Spanish acronym: INCIBE), which he defined as "a government instrument to develop cybersecurity as a driver of social transformation and of innovation".

Mariano Rajoy pointed out that in the INCIBE handled 123,064 incidents of cybersecurity in 2017 - 8,000 more than in the previous year. Of these, 885 affected critical operators while the rest affected citizens, companies and academic centres. The President of the Government also underlined the importance of preventive tasks and of raising awareness of new technologies, since cyberthreats have a direct bearing on society and national security.

Non official translation