Mariano Rajoy says new regional financing model should guarantee access to public services based on "principle of equality"

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

In response to a question about the Citizen Security Act from the spokesperson for the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party], Antonio Hernando, President of the Government Rajoy said that repealing the rules approved during the last legislature, "many of which have had highly significant positive effects for all Spaniards", is not the "best way to move forward or contribute to the general interest of all".

According to the President of the Government, saying today that there is a "lack of rights or lesser enjoyment of freedoms" or "no freedom to exercise the right to protest" is "a joke". In fact, Mariano Rajoy recalled that only 0.02% of police reports filed under this law relate to protests (disturbances or not requesting permission), with the vast majority relating to drug offences or being in possession of weapons or explosives.

Public consultations announced by local council authorities

Aitor Esteban, from the Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) [Basque Nationalist Party], asked about the public consultations announced by local council authorities. In this regard, the President of the Government expressed agreement with municipalities being able to consult the public on "issues that affect their own environment", provided they have government authorisation under current legislation.

Mariano Rajoy also explained that the Government of Spain "does not have the power to make discretionary decisions" in this regard, as it is "a purely regulated matter". "It is a question of controlling the legal nature of things, which seems highly reasonable to me", he added.

The President of the Government also recalled that six consultations have been authorised in the Basque Country since 2010 and five were rejected because they did not correspond to municipal powers, such as fracking.

Regional financing

The Member of Parliament for Foro Asturias [the Asturias Forum], forming part of the Grupo Mixto [Mixed Group], Isidro Manuel Martínez Oblanca, asked about the new autonomous region financing system. The President of the Government explained that both the model to be approved shortly and investments by the State (included in the 2017 General State Budget) should guarantee "solidarity and equality", given that they are "constitutional principles that underpin our legal system".

After stating that the current regional financing system has "flaws" that need to be corrected, Mariano Rajoy stressed that the negotiations on the new model will begin with the Conference of Regional Government Heads, to be held on 17 January. Although he admitted that these negotiations will not be "easy", he said he is convinced that "we will reach an understanding".

Furthermore, the President of the Government explained that the new model should guarantee "stable and sufficient financing" so that "all Spaniards can access public services based on the principle of equality, wherever they live". The same applies to the investments contained in the 2017 General State Budget. "We are going to seek a balanced distribution, promoting actions aimed at benefiting the general interest", he said.

Mariano Rajoy, Best Speaker in the Lower House of Parliament Award 2016

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoLater on, in the corridors of the Lower House of Parliament, Mariano Rajoy expressed gratitude for the "Emilio Castelar" Award to the Best Speaker in the Lower House of Parliament for 2016, which was awarded to him by the Association of Parliamentary Journalists.

Although he "was not expecting it", the President of the Government is very pleased to receive the award and, with a hint of irony, said he will not protest because, "at least, some degree of justice has been done".