Mariano Rajoy is re-elected as President of the Government

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

Before the vote of confidence in the Lower House, Mariano Rajoy stated to all the parliamentary groups that "Spain needs something more than a simple investiture; it needs a government that is in a position to govern". "I am not asking for a blank cheque; I am asking for maturity", he said.

In this regard, he declared that "Spain needs to be governed and governed well; despite the fact there is no absolute majority", it has a government that will not lack support to carry through the key tasks for the benefit of the people of Spain.

In his opinion, "today we are paving the way to the future, a future which, without a majority, means that we must all be responsible".

Mariano Rajoy stressed that he is prepared "to correct whatever needs correcting, to improve whatever can be improved on and to give way on whatever is reasonable. I will not spare any time or effort, and I will work every day to ensure the governability of Spain", he asserted.

However, he pointed out that he will not negotiate the unity of Spain or the equality of the Spanish people, because this is simply not permitted. Nor will I breach "our commitments with the European Union", or the budget stability, he declared.

Pool Moncloa / Diego CrespoHe also underlined that he is not willing to pull down what has been built up, or harm our economic recovery or job creation. "It makes no sense to overturn all the reforms undertaken". "We will improve that which can be improved on, but we will not stop Spain from continuing to be the country with the fastest rate of growth and of job creation in Europe", he explained

Finally, Mariano Rajoy called for a "predictable" government, in the sense that "its main lines of action are well-known from the start, which announces what is going to happen and what is not going to happen so that everyone knows what they need to adhere to from the start".

New government

At the end of the investiture session, in the corridors of the Lower House, and in response to questions from the press, Mariano Rajoy announced that on Thursday afternoon, 3 November, he will appoint his government, which will be sworn into office before the King the following day, on Friday.

In the statement he made, he said that his commitment is "to defend the general interest" and that he is aware of "the difficulties that many people are still suffering". In his opinion, if we all make an effort we can reach understandings and convert this situation, which is difficult and complex, into an opportunity.