Mariano Rajoy highlights that 2016 Budget will enable economic policy to be maintained and reforms to produce results

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

At the end of the debate on the Draft General State Budget for 2016, held since Tuesday in the Lower House of Parliament, the Plenary Session rejected the motions of referral presented by the parliamentary groups by 151 votes in favour, 185 against and one abstention. The Spanish budget's passage through Parliament will now continue at the committee stage.

In the corridors of the Lower House after the voting, Mariano Rajoy expressed satisfaction with the result because this General Budget will maintain "the same economic policy" that he believes has been highly positive for Spain in recent years. In this regard, he stressed that such foreign media channels as the 'Financial Times' are publishing editorials today in support of that policy.

More than one million jobs recovered

The President of the Government recalled that Spain will be the fastest growing European economy this year and that 600,000 jobs will be created in the country.

Over one million jobs have been recovered during this legislature, although "there remains much work to do" in this regard, he added.

The President of the Government went on to say that people have gone through "an enormously tough period" but "the effort and dedication from the vast majority of Spanish citizens are finally producing results" and the reforms implemented by the government "have shown themselves to be highly useful for Spain". "We are very excited about the future", concluded Mariano Rajoy.