Pedro Sánchez: "We are demonstrating that economic growth is not incompatible with the redistribution of wealth"

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

EFE

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has reaffirmed during the control session in the Lower House the predisposition of the Executive to maintain the social protection measures put in place during the last legislatures, initiatives that he described as "perfectly compatible" with the economic evolution registered in the last year.

"In this and the previous legislature, we are demonstrating that economic growth is possible and, furthermore, it is not incompatible with the redistribution of that wealth among the social majority of our country," the leader of the Executive assured in his reply to Mertxe Aizpurúa, a member of the Euskal Herria Bildu Parliamentary Group.

Among the most outstanding examples of such redistribution, Pedro Sánchez mentioned the promotion of the Minimum Basic Income which already covers 2 million people; the increase in pensions; the increase in the minimum wage by more than 400 euros per month; and the 137% increase in aid for dependency.

Pool Congreso

Government and citizens' priorities

"Spain is experiencing one of its best moments in recent decades, and this is thanks to the efforts of all Spaniards, and also to the contribution of the Government of Spain," said the head of the Executive, in response to a question from Alberto Núñez Feijóo, a member of the People's Parliamentary Group, on the coincidence of his priorities with the interests of the Spanish people.

The Government's priorities, explained Pedro Sánchez, are the consolidation of economic growth, the creation of jobs, the strengthening of public services and the welfare state, and tackling the housing problem, as well as "combating inequality in all its forms and also defending peace wherever there are conflicts on the international stage."

"Moreover, the data supports these priorities by the Government of Spain," said the head of the Executive, after highlighting that "just today, a weekly magazine, The Economist, placed Spain as the best performing economy in the world in 2024," ahead of the USA, Italy, Germany and France. On the other hand, the OECD has pointed out that our country's growth is four times higher than the EU average.

Pool Congreso

Political plurality and territorial diversity

In response to a question from Míriam Nogueras, from the Junts per Catalunya parliamentary group, on the political situation in Spain, Pedro Sánchez explained that "Parliament reflects the political plurality and territorial diversity of our country." In this context, the Government "will comply with the commitments, which are public and transparent, signed with all the parliamentary groups."

"During this legislature we are making progress on many agreements, also for Catalonia and Catalan society as a whole," said the president, who defended "useful politics," exemplified, according to the president, in the work being carried out by the Generalitat of Catalonia.

In this sense, he highlighted the fact that in Catalonia, as a result of the application of the Housing Law, rent prices are falling and there is a "firm commitment" to the construction of 50,000 homes in the current legislature. In this region, access to housing is the main problem according to the latest analysis by the Centro de Estudios de Opinión (CEO).

Non official translation