During the #Avanzamos event held at Casa de América and coinciding with the first 100 days in government

President of the Government announces reform of Spanish Constitution to remove special privileges

2018.9.17

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Casa de América, Madrid

The President of the Government explained that, "if we act with foresight, this reform of the Spanish Constitution could take effect in only 60 days from when it begins its passage through the Lower House of Parliament". He hopes it receives backing from the entire Lower House so that the general public can once again believe in politics and offer the people "a relevant, unequivocal and exemplary message based on solidarity and empathy".

In his speech, Pedro Sánchez said that "we will not give up" and that he will continue calling for the agreement needed to move Spain forward "on a transformational project that looks beyond the immediate horizon". He also called for support from the representatives from civil society present at the event, leading figures from the world of business and culture, the third sector, science and innovation, and all those who fight for equality and progress in Spain. "We are all united by a yearning to build a fairer country where people, whomever they vote for and whatever they believe, can feel there is hope and opportunities as we stand on the threshold of a decade that will change a great many things".

Dealing with pressing issues without delay

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo"Spain stands before changing times, and the time for change is coming", said Pedro Sánchez, who recalled that the current government came to power only 100 days ago and put the largest ever number of women in positions of power. This government is implementing the European social model across the board and is ready to deal with the pressing issues that remain unresolved without delay, such as child poverty, gender-based violence, temporary employment rates, false self-employed workers and job insecurity. "This is a government", he said, "that is moving forward, and doing so despite those who prefer to gain from paralysis and electioneering".

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, told his audience about a series of specific measures launched by his government since the first Council of Ministers meeting to make progress on the fight against child poverty under the VECA programme; to make progress on defending the public service by promoting the largest public job offer in ten years; and to make progress on employment justice under the Master Plan for Dignified Jobs that has already produced its first results with over 8,000 false self-employed workers now registered under the General Regime of the Spanish Social Security system.

Improvements to jobs, education and social cohesion

In this regard, he mentioned the improved conditions for self-employed workers. In his opinion, this group has been "ignored for far too long". He believes more efforts are needed to combat temporary work, false part-time contracts, unpaid overtime and increased job insecurity "as the price to pay for unfair growth".

His government is also making progress on public and quality education by reversing the education cuts, reducing the number of students per classroom, improving teaching replacements and recovering the funding lost on grants.

Measures have also been taken in terms of social cohesion by recovering universal healthcare and increasing the widowhood pension, although more work needs to be done on other challenges, such as pension sustainability. For this, he believes the Toledo Pact is essential.

For progress in terms of pro-European action, he believes it necessary to find European solutions to global challenges. He stressed that "Spain is again present at the decision-making heart of the European Union" and, although "there are those wishing to go backwards and others resigned to paralysis, we know that the best way to defend Europe is with more Europe".

Pedro Sánchez wants his government to promote a genuine agenda for change aimed at overcoming the downturn and putting the country on the right path to tackle the great transformations on the 2030 horizon, a year chosen not only because it is a United Nations milestone but because "it represents the decade we have to win, a decade full of opportunities where others see only fear and threats. A decade for recovering the well-being of the middle and working classes".

Non official translation