Mariano Rajoy calls for unity of political forces in fight against terrorism

Barcelona

The President of the Government appeared together with the President of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, to report on the meeting of the crisis cabinet held at the Regional Department of Home Affairs, following the attacks carried out in Las Ramblas in Barcelona and in the town of Cambrils.

During his speech, Mariano Rajoy confirmed that the committee tasked with assessing the counter-terrorism alert level will meet up in Madrid on Saturday. He also announced that the Counter-Terrorism Pact will meet on Monday and will include representatives from virtually all of the political parties. "I hope that this meeting will serve to once again convey to our citizens that all of the political forces, regardless of their leaning, will move as one in the same direction, with the same intensity and with the same victorious spirit against terrorism", he said.

The President of the Government reiterated that the goal is to send out a message of unity in the fight against terrorism. "The first premise to ensure that terrorism is defeated is for all of the political forces to be united".

Mariano Rajoy expressed to the Regional Government of Catalonia, the need to "work together" and "act as a team" to combat this problem. "I believe that not only coordination between the law enforcement agencies is important, but also coordination between the rest of the public authorities and between politicians, which will make us more effective in the future".

The President of the Government also thanked the police forces and public servants for their work and professionalism "in this tremendously difficult situation", and assured them that they will always be able to count on the support of the government. "Governments are not here to do police work, but to support the police in the performance of their duties, and the most important thing for us is to clarify the facts, detain the criminals and be effective".

In the same way as he did on Thursday night in Barcelona, Mariano Rajoy expressed his sympathies and solidarity with the victims and reiterated that the main goal is to attend to all those injured people who are in the different hospitals in Catalonia and to their families.

For his part, Carles Puigdemont expressed his determination to "win the battle against terrorism with solidarity, harmony, liberty and respect".

Non official translation