Mariano Rajoy asserts that unity of Spain goes before party colours

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

During his speech at the government control session, after reporting on the latest European Council, Mariano Rajoy stated that the defence of legality excludes neither political nor institutional dialogue with Catalonia.

The President of the Government recalled that the government takes decisions that affect all the people of Spain, and hence, all the people of Catalonia. "We have been taking political decisions in Catalonia for a long time now so that the region can receive financing, so that it can maintain its public services, so that the suppliers of the Regional Government of Catalonia and other public authorities can get paid, so that debt maturities can be attended to, so that they could undertake major investments and so that the regional institutions do not go bankrupt".

This was the response offered by Mariano Rajoy to the Spokesperson for the Socialist Parliamentary Group, Antonio Hernando, who enquired after the government's forecasts given the situation in Catalonia. The President of the Government said that he maintains his "full interest in speaking with the regional institutions from a standpoint of loyalty to the law, to the Constitution and to the Statute of Autonomy". He also declared that he hopes to count on the PSOE [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party] and "listen closely to the suggestions it wishes to lay on the table", because the unity of Spain "goes before party colours".

Asbestos-related diseases

Pool Moncloa/J.M. CuadradoMariano Rajoy explained the government's position on the draft law of the Regional Parliament of the Basque Country to set up a compensation fund for victims of asbestos-related diseases, an issue that the MP for the PNV [Basque Nationalist Party], Aitor Esteban, enquired after. The President of the Government pointed out that the government did not back the passage of this initiative through the Lower House in exercise of its powers under the Constitution to reject measures that increase the limits on spending contained in the General State Budget.

However, Mariano Rajoy recalled that the People's Party Parliamentary Group presented a draft law in the Regional Parliament of the Basque Country to set up this fund, and the PNV and the PSOE voted against it and took the initiative to the Lower House so that the fund could be set up and funded by the Budget. He stated that "at this time, those people suffering from asbestos-related diseases are being treated by the social security system. I am prepared to talk about this issue with you and be constructive".

As regards the possibility of modifying the electoral system in the Canary Islands now that the new Statute of Autonomy for this region is being pushed through, the President of the Government said that it is not down to him to decide on this issue and underlined that a study committee exists in the Regional Parliament of the Canary Islands. "The most sensible and reasonable option is for this issue to be resolved by the regional parliament", he answered in response to the MP for the New Canary Islands, Pedro Quevedo.

Agreement on stevedores

In the corridors of the Lower House, the President of the Government expressed his trust in an agreement being reached in the Lower House on Thursday to ratify the Royal Decree-Law modifying the work regime of stevedores, since this new legislation responds to an "obligation" as a Member State of the European Union.
If this text is not approved, he highlighted, a fine will have to be paid, as well as a daily penalty of 130,000 euros, something that "would not be welcomed in Spain".