Pedro Sánchez points out that the 2023 Budget and fiscal policy benefit the country's social majority

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

Pedro Sánchez has stated that last week's approval in Congress of the draft General Spanish State Budget is a "clear example" of who the Government of Spain is governing for. These public accounts include "the greatest social investment at a time when the social majority of our country most needs to be protected", he highlighted in his reply to Concepción Gamarra, a member of the Popular Parliamentary Group. Taxes on large energy and financial institutions and the tax on large fortunes also show, in the President's opinion, that they are guided by the interests of the great majority.

Specifically, Sánchez mentioned the over 20 million national insurance contributors, the over 2.5 million workers who have a permanent contract thanks to the labour reform, the 9 million pensioners who will see their pensions reassessed in line with the CPI, the 29 million electricity consumers and the 8 million gas consumers for whom VAT has been reduced, and the 2 million beneficiaries of free transport. Furthermore, he has asserted that the Government of Spain's measures have succeeded in controlling inflation, which affects all citizens.

In his speech, the President also argued in favour of yesterday's appointment of the two magistrates to the Constitutional Court, which the Government of Spain is responsible for appointingin accordance with Article 159.1 of the Constitution. Sánchez has argued that it is "perfectly democratic and constitutional to defend the suitability of these two people for such high responsibilities". "What is not democratic and constitutional is to block the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary and the Constitutional Court", he argued.

Compliance with the Navarre Statute of Navarre and the Constitution

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during the control session in Lower House of Parliament, speaking with the First Vice President and Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño | Pool Congreso

In his reply to Santiago Abascal, a member of the Vox Parliamentary Group, the chief executive denied that the presence of the Guardia Civil in Navarre is being reduced. "Since I have been President of the Government of Spain, there have been 1,581 civil guards in the region of Navarre, 94 more than there were four years ago", said Pedro Sánchez.

The President added that the transfer of traffic competences to this community means "complying with the Statute of Navarre and, therefore, with the Spanish Constitution".

Sánchez has rejected the use in the Legislative Chamber of "sexist insults" or "insidiousness" towards political opponents and statements to "poison coexistence". He also recalled that Vox did not present "a single amendment" to the draft General Budget for the year 2023.

Defending the interests of the Canary Islands in the new phase with Morocco

The President has expressed the "firm intention" of the Government of Spain to ensure that the Canary Islands are included in the working group with Morocco on the delimitation of maritime areas on the Atlantic coast. According to Sánchez, there is a representative designated by the Government of the Canary Islands who participates in the meetings "that require his presence", "in application of the competences and the Statute of the Canary Islands". As an example of this role, he pointed out that the delegate joined the Spanish delegation in the meetings held with Morocco in June and October.

"In this process, the Government of the Canary Islands, all the political parties and the whole of Canary Islands society can rest assured that the Government of Spain will continue to fulfil its commitments and defend the interests of the Canary Islands and Spain as a whole", Sánchez said.

The chief executive stressed the special interest that the relationship between Spain and Morocco holds for the Canary Islands, given their geographical proximity and the human, economic and all kinds of links they have with the neighbouring country. "Precisely for this reason", he said, "the Canary Islands is one of the regional governments that will benefit most from the new phase that began between Spain and Morocco on 7 April.

Non official translation