Appearance by President of the Government of Spain after Council of Ministers

APPEARANCE BY PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN

Good day, thanks to the media for accompanying us here at this press briefing, which is the last in the political calendar to take stock of the government's actions over these seven months of this term of office.

The dramatic circumstances we have gone through have, as you know, led to many appearances related to the pandemic and all types of matters, but the coalition government's commitment remains in force and is the reason for this press briefing.

On 5 January when I addressed Parliament, I undertook to our people to head up a government that I described then as an active, executive and resolute government. Today I would like to reaffirm this commitment to make Spain an example of an open government, as defined by the OECD - a government with a culture of governance based on the principles of transparency, integrity and accountability with the participation of all interested parties.

The trust we all aspire to is not a free gift - it is the fruit gathered through clarity of intentions, a willingness to be scrutinised, truthful actions and promises met, electoral commitments and parliamentary commitments.

In line with that, I will divide this exercise in accountability into three sections:

The first of these will be a brief review of those actions that have taken a leading role during these recent months of the pandemic and health emergency, and which are obviously exceptional and extraordinary in regard to the government's agenda.

Secondly, I will take stock of the measures contained in the investiture agreements that have been activated or completed over these last six months.

Lastly, I would like to mention some of the most important points, according to the government's criteria, of those agreements we seek to implement over the coming months.

I will now move on to remark on the measures stemming from COVID.

Over the last two years, Spain has undergone, as you know, particularly intense legislative activity as a result of two consecutive events: the change of political cycle that began as of 2018, and the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.

As is only logical, this accountability must begin by recalling the main elements and decisions in the health crisis.

As you know, on 14 March we activated the extraordinary constitutional mechanism of the state of emergency. For the first time in the history of our democracy, the government was forced to stop everything to save lives, to defend public health, and consequently to lock down all the Spanish people, limiting such fundamental rights as mobility and assembly to tackle the pandemic. Our goal was to save lives and is and was to defend public health.

In order to tackle the pandemic, you know that on 17 March we announced the largest mobilisation of resources in the economic history of our country in recent years for a total sum of 200 billion euros, which combined health measures, because this was a health emergency, but also measures of a financial, labour and social nature.

We are talking about 100 billion euros in guarantees freed up through the Official Credit Institute (Spanish acronym: ICO) so that viable companies that had to lock down and halt their production as a result of the health emergency did not have to close down. We are also talking about a ban on turning off the electricity supply to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable homes or homes that could become so as a result of the pandemic, of the health emergency. We are also talking about almost 4 million workers - men and women - that signed up to a Temporary Lay-off Plan (Spanish acronym: ERTE), and about benefits for the cessation of activity that have helped, and I would like to stress this, 1,479,000 independent contractors. This social safety net had one main aim, which persists, to soften the effects of the crisis so as to leave no-one behind. The organisation of this needed to be effective, rapid and far-reaching, as required by the health emergency.

These dates - 14 and 17 March - remain imprinted in our memories because they were obviously very difficult times of sacrifice for the whole of Spanish society, which I would like to thank for its profound sense of solidarity, discipline, resistance and a scent for victory.

Since then, the specific management of the pandemic has required, and I would like to remind you of this, the enactment of 22 Royal Decree-Laws, 98 Resolutions and 130 Ministerial Orders. Most of them are clearly designed to manage the health crisis, as you know.

In this regard, social dialogue, together with multilateral and bilateral dialogue with the regional governments, has been unprecedented, particularly in the first two cases.

We have called, as you know, 15 Conferences of Regional Presidents. To give you an idea, in these more than 40 years of democracy in our country, the Conference of Regional Presidents had only been called on six occasions until the start of this term of office; since then, in little more than six months, we have called 15 Conferences of Regional Presidents - 14 by video-conference and the last in situ this Friday in San Millán de la Cogolla.

We have pushed through an agreement with the social stakeholders to successively extend the ERTEs, the last deadline in place is 30 September to promote an employment agreement with the social stakeholders, which was signed between the Government of Spain and the social stakeholders at Moncloa Palace.

We have reached, and I would also like to underline this, an historic agreement in the form of the Recovery Fund, with a provision of 140 billion euros for our country, which will help us tackle the economic and social recovery, and also transform our country, while recovering with better and greater strengths, which we so badly need.

Just this morning, we have reached an agreement with the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces that will allow treasury surpluses of local authorities to be freed up and their recovery will be enhanced by a non-financial payment of 5 billion euros to the municipal coffers. And in this regard, taking the opportunity of the presence here of the Government Spokesperson and Minister for the Treasury, I want to praise her work, the role she has played in the negotiations which has clearly been important in reaching this agreement that is so necessary for the municipalities in our country.

On a health level, as you know, 41 coordination meetings have been held of the regional health councillors within the framework of the Inter-territorial Council of the National Health System and 14 meetings with the Public Health Directors of the different regional governments, and we can now set out the facts, progress and results that I would like to pass on to the Spanish public for calm reflection.

Firstly, in diagnostic terms, as at 30 July, 7,064,329 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been performed. Of these, more than 4.6 million are PCR tests - the most reliable tests, as you know - in addition to the three waves of the pioneering ENECovid19 study in the world of seroprevalence, performed by the Carlos III Health Institute and the regional governments. To give you an idea of the tremendous efforts made by the regional governments and the concurrence of the Government of Spain, at present an average of some 45,000 PCR tests are being performed daily, meaning almost 315,000 a week.

In terms of the health response, we approved, as you know, 16 billion euros in a Non-repayable Fund for the regional governments.

You will recall that 9 billion are for health expenses, and 2 billion for the return of our children to school as from September. Of these 16 billion euros, all the autonomous regions and autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla have been beneficiaries.

And together with these 16 billion euros, there are an extra 14 billion euros in regional liquidity for the months following the pandemic and 3.2 billion euros from the ERDF for health spending. In addition to these regional items, there are 1.4 billion euros from the Contingency Fund approved by the government which has been in the hands of the Ministry of Health since the start of the pandemic. The tremendous effort made to transfer funds by the Government of Spain to the regional governments to attend to the health emergency is unprecedented - we are talking about more than 30 billion euros in the hands of the regional governments to tackle all the consequences within their jurisdictions.

Beyond strictly financial questions, I should underline the unrivalled mobilisation of healthcare workers, with more than 81,900 additional professionals made available to the regional governments during the pandemic, to save lives and protect the health of everyone. I would like to acknowledge the work of all of these healthcare workers who have been protecting us over the long and intense months of the pandemic.

In terms of prevention, as well as the more than 195 million units of PPE distributed by Central Government to the regional authorities, we have strengthened our strategic reserve, which was one of the main demands of the Spanish people, particularly of healthcare professionals, and Spain now has more than 24 million units of health material in storage.

Another of the measures adopted was the control of the price of face masks which, despite some erroneous forecasts, were never in short supply, which halted the speculation we saw at the start of the crisis. This amount was exponentially increased after the recent agreement signed by Central Government with the regional governments - a framework signed with the National Health Management Institute to acquire the exorbitant figure of 3.7 billion additional units to protect us from COVID-19 in the coming years.

In terms of research, I feel it is important to underline the role of science in the health emergency. Spain will form part of the process to produce the vaccine being prepared by Moderna, and is one of the five leading countries in the world to perform clinical trials to combat COVID-19. At present, 102 clinical trials are being undertaken authorised by the Spanish Medication Agency. Many of them have been backed by the Spanish COVID-19 Fund, which has financed more than 200 R&D+i projects that have begun since the start of the pandemic.

As regards the new outbreaks, which is something I know that concerns the whole of Spanish society, on 16 July, the Ministry of Health and the regional governments agreed the "Early Response Plan in a scenario of controlling the pandemic stemming from COVID19" - a document that offers the National Health System greater capacity to prevent and stem potential increases in the spread of the virus. I have said this on many occasions, our NHS must remain vigilant but we also need to keep calm and serene because we are now much better prepared as a society and with our healthcare professionals to tackle the outbreaks we are registering earlier in our country.

These are the broad strokes in the fight against the pandemic that still continue. I would like to remind you that all these exceptional measures are in line with the mandate from the WHO, which is overseeing this crisis from a multilateral perspective. A mandate that requires governments around the world to comply, in a balanced fashion, with three criteria that have guided our actions.

Firstly, an effective healthcare response, in other words, to protect and save lives and defend public health.

The mitigation of these socio-economic imbalances stemming from the lockdown with a huge amount of financial resources that we have implemented.

And finally, to uphold human rights.

In short, we are faithfully, loyally and fully upholding, I would say, the constitutional mandate of our Magna Carta.

These are the main lines that inspired the recovery of the right to universal healthcare that the Socialist Government activated in 2018, without which, more than 800,000 people would have been left unprotected in the midst of this pandemic, something I would also like to convey to you, exponentially exacerbating the incidence of the virus in Spain. As even the staunchest enemies of universal healthcare can appreciate, if some people are excluded from receiving healthcare, these people, as well as not being catered for, become a risk to others. In this, as in so many other things, selfishness is pernicious for everyone; a lack of solidarity is not good for anyone.

In second place, I would like to take stock of the balance of the management of the government and investiture agreements that I undertook to implement in the investiture debate and also at the press briefing that I had the chance to give to the media.

It is true that there is often a great difference between what we say and what we do. The mission of an open, executive and resolute government such as the one we want for our country, which I feel is necessary for our country, is that this difference should cease to exist between what we say and what we do.

To achieve that, we must put opinions to one side and allow ourselves to be subject to the figures.

As is public knowledge, the progressive coalition government agreement contains 428 commitments, of which I can announce to you that more than 55% have been activated since 31 July last, and the forecast is for 17.3% of them to be completed before the end of the year.

In other words, in one year we will have fully complied with almost one fifth of the legislature agreements, despite the absolutely extraordinary circumstances of these recent months and those ahead of us. We are firmly committed to taking on the commitments made.

Thanks to that, according to our forecasts, by the end of 2021, 100% of these commitments will have been activated. And we will close off the year 2023 having fully completed 90% of the goals set, and having initiated the remaining 10% which will require a longer term to be fully implemented.

These figures respond to the commitment undertaken by the Government of Spain on 5 January to head up, as I said before, an active, executive and resolute government; a government that in short acts,.

I said in my last appearance before the Lower House of Parliament when I had the chance to explain the EU agreement that this was going to be a long and fruitful term of office. One may be more or less in agreement with the political direction of the government, but I believe it is difficult to deny that this is a decisive government that acts. And that it is audited and undergoes a process of self-assessment, as we are doing here today. It will be geared towards action and results throughout this term of office.

Beyond the statistics, which are undoubtedly important, and the effects of an assessment of the government's action, it is imperative for us to briefly review the most important measures implemented, whether in their activation or achievement phase.

Firstly, the consolidation of economic growth and the digitalisation of the economy.

If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is that digitalisation and its multiple applications in different areas are key to socio-economic progress. That is why it is vitally important to transform our productive and training system, adapting them to the 21st Century.

In this context, we have approved the following measures:

The Draft Law on the Tax on Certain Digital Services, in coordination with our European Union partners.

The Draft Law on the Financial Transactions Tax.

The Circular Economy Strategy.

The Digital Spain 2025 Strategy - a new agenda to speed up the digital transformation of the country in an inclusive, sustainable manner, and in line with Europe.

The Plan to Boost Tourism - a sector that relies on the support of the Government of Spain - with a change in the study of the image and positioning of our country as a destination.

And the Plan to Modernise Vocational Training, that is so important, which, as well as adding new qualifications of future professions, includes the teaching of digital competences at all levels - we are making vocational training more dignified, which is one of the main transformations we want for our country within the next four years.

Secondly, the ecological transition, together with the digital transformation.

I have said this on many occasions that science will find a vaccine for COVID-19, but there is no, and can be no, vaccine for the climate disaster. The thermometer continues to rise and all we have left is to halt this rise. We are in time to do this; that is the conviction of the Government of Spain, also creating favourable conditions for our health, working in an unstoppable fashion for social well-being, and committing to a green and digital economy that translates into more jobs and jobs of better quality.

What have we approved to this end? We have managed to approve an important Draft Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition. We have pushed through the Draft Law on Waste and Contaminated Soil, and the Plan to Boost the Value Chain of the Automotive Industry towards sustainable and connected mobility. The automotive sector is as important in our country as driving this transition towards electric cars to offer sustainability and competitiveness. And then you have the Action Plan for Science and Innovation.

Thirdly, a very important goal for this government, and I am also convinced that for most of our fellow countrymen - gender equality, real equality between men and women.

Women account for 51% of the population, and they are once again the most prejudiced by this pandemic, having taken on the lion's share of caring tasks. It is impossible to make Spain a competitive, strong and cohesive country when the majority of the population are prejudiced in each crisis - this 51% that represent the women of our country. The transformations will not be real if the gender perspective and equality are not implicit therein in all fields. This is not just a question of social justice, although it also is. When women's rights advance, the whole of society advances. We also want equality between all members of society because no-one can now have any doubts that social cohesion is the most powerful driver of transformation, growth and the competitiveness of any economy or society.

What have we approved to this end? As you know, we have approved the passage through Parliament of the Draft Constitutional Law to guarantee sexual liberty, which raises awareness, prevention, detection, care, protection and redress.

The SOS button on the Alertcops application has been activated, which allows both healthcare workers and the victims of gender-based violence to discreetly request the immediate assistance of the State law enforcement agencies.

Fourthly, social and territorial cohesion. Social cohesion among the Spanish people who have more and those who have less and territorial cohesion must not leave anyone behind. This is a government that advocates equality between citizens and regions. In the same way as we reject the insurmountable gaps between the privileged and the vulnerable, education gaps, inter-generational gaps, gaps between professions, and even the gender gap, we must do the same with territorial gaps, which run the risk of becoming greater as a result of the pandemic. Because the differences between urban and rural Spain, between more and less populated areas must only be geographic, and must be turned into an opportunity.

And what have we done to this end? As you know, we have approved the Minimum Living Income, which removes co-payments for beneficiaries of the Minimum Living Income. This measure, as you are aware, has a dimension that is, I would say, unprecedented, historic and a demand for those who could not conceive progress without social justice. This government will not allow, and I said this in my appearance in the Lower House, more broken childhoods, more generations without a future and more families without hope. Our children and grandchildren, wherever they may be born, wherever they may live, must have the same opportunities and the same rights and should not suffer any form of discrimination. It is simply a question of doing what is right, guaranteeing all people a dignified life.

In this regard, we have also reformed the State System of Grants and State Aid, increasing the investment by 22%, in order to guarantee equal opportunities for all students regardless of their socio-economic situation. And we have given a 2% pay rise to public servants by approving the corresponding Decree-Law in January 2020.

And we have also approved, as you know, a Draft Law to Amend the Constitutional Law on Education, a Draft Law for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents from all forms of violence, a rise in the Minimum Wage within the framework of social dialogue, the elimination of objective dismissals due to absence from work for common diseases, albeit justified by a medical report.

We have raised pensions. We have paid out the third tranche to bring State law enforcement officers' salaries in line. And lastly, we have opened dialogue to ensure the rapprochement between Catalonia and the rest of Spain, in a decisive commitment to coexistence, and an agreement that is not just between governments, but also to ensure the rapprochement of Catalan society itself.

And we have done this with the hallmark of this government which I wanted to underline in my investiture speech - dialogue. This must be and will be, and after the pandemic it will be with even greater energy, the legislature of dialogue. Because if we have made progress, it is thanks to a sincere predisposition to dialogue, to negotiated solutions. Through belief and confidence in the power of dialogue to make progress and meet objectives.

That is how we wanted to begin this decade of transformation, and that is what we are doing. A new attitude for a new time, reflected, for example, in the holding of 87 sector conferences between the Government of Spain and the regional governments.

From this balance, we can draw, in my opinion, a great conclusion. The government has thrown itself into the fight against the pandemic, but furthermore, the government's action has been maintained in other areas despite the absolutely exceptional nature of the circumstances we are going through as a society.

Despite the fight against the pandemic having led to the mobilisation of most of our resources and our political energy in recent months, we have managed to develop, during this time, some important measures that already appeared in the government's agenda, in our investiture agreements and we have even complemented some very important measures, or completed them, rather, such as the Minimum Living Income.

And this is because these measures also meant direct solutions for the needs and urgencies of the health, economic and social emergency.

Spain had a transformation project designed to strengthen our capabilities and possibilities in a global context of dizzying change as we are seeing. And the COVID-19 pandemic has speeded up the need and the urgency of these changes. We were on the right course, the one indicated by EU experts and institutions, but the pandemic has spurred us on to speed up the proposed transformations: the digital transition, the ecological transition, to give policies we implement a gender equality perspective and never leave anyone behind, and to be a government that guarantees equality among Spaniards, wherever they may live, and also offers all regions equal opportunities.

Thirdly, I would like to briefly summarise some measures that we will implement over the coming months.

Following the health emergency, we are immersed in the socio-economic emergency stemming from the COVID-19 health emergency. I have always been in favour of speaking clearly to our people. I never hid the reality from them, either in the present or regarding the future. When we were in the midst of the health emergency, I spoke clearly and I will not change that now. We still have some tough months ahead, but rest assured that we will overcome this together.

To do that, we must have a clear perspective of what we will need from ourselves each year. Following the resistance and reactivation of our economy, which is what we have been doing in recent months, the economic recovery has now begun. In 2021, the recovery will find its rhythm and speed up in 2022. And all thanks, to a large extent, to this great historic agreement we have reached in Europe.

And by 2023, we will be in a better position than we were before the crisis and our economy will be in better shape because we will have made a leap in terms of digitalisation, sustainability, cohesion, we will be more productive and more inclusive, because our strength will come from not leaving anyone by the wayside.

Lastly, from these bases, I would like to just announce some of the milestones that are on the government's agenda to implement in the coming months. Actions on which we will submit ourselves to the corresponding accountability on a periodic basis, at least twice a year, thus maintaining our commitment to transparency and accountability in our work methods.

Firstly, as is only right, we will continue to pay priority attention to the measures contained in the government programme in relation to health, the economy of care, updating the Mental Health Strategy, re-establishing assisted reproduction treatment on the portfolio of common services of the National Health System, and approving the National Action Plan for Care, as an initial step in creating a State Care System.

Secondly, we will redirect the State Housing Plan 2018-2021 to boost affordable rentals and rehabilitation, as we consider this to be an essential step in making progress in our social justice goals, the emancipation of young people and job creation. The construction sector is very important for the country's economy, and for job creation and to maintain the productive fabric.

Thirdly, the creation of quality jobs through the renewal of active employment policies, the consolidation of Temporary Lay-off Plans (Spanish acronym: ERTEs) as an alternative to dismissals, which is what has happened in previous crises and boosting social dialogue as a guarantee of the stability that the country needs.

Fourthly, as regards public employment, we will present the Draft Law on the Public Function of the General State Administration, and we will develop the Basic Statute of Public Employment. More specifically, we will draw up the State Pact to Modernise the Administration of Justice, which is so necessary for this key sector in public service and for companies and citizens.

In fifth place, as specific actions that contribute to economic growth and which were already being developed in the government programme before the outbreak of the pandemic, we will approve the Electro-intensive Consumer Statute, which is so necessary for our industry. We will also present the 3rd Action Plan to Internationalise the Spanish Economy 2021-2022.

We will approve the Digital Rights Charter, which is so important in this digital transition to instil our rights vis-à-vis large corporations that work with data and protect the privacy of all citizens - this Digital Rights Charter is a fundamental milestone. We will also approve the State R&D+i Plan, and the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy 2021-2027. If we have seen something it is that science, which will assuredly give us hope soon in the form of a vaccine, is a fundamental pillar for progress, cohesion and the very safety of societies, as in the case of the pandemic.

And we will also push through a policy of mesh infrastructures, increasing the investment in suburban trains and in such important corridors as the Mediterranean and Atlantic Corridors.

In sixth place, you know that this is a government committed to equality among Spaniards and also to territorial cohesion, and we will continue to push through pending measures to overcome the demographic challenge - a measure of great socio-economic scope that we have been committed to for some time, and which now takes on particular importance in the context of the commitment to an inclusive, digital and sustainable recovery.

In seventh place, in the field of equality, we will draw up the Strategic Equal Opportunities Plan 2020-2022, which sets out the broad strokes of actions on equality in the public administration, and we will present a Draft Comprehensive Law on Equal Treatment and Non-discrimination.

In eighth place, we will also implement specific actions to defend consumers, through the approval of the Royal Decree on the Advertising of Gaming, revise taxation on food and introduce the figure of the vulnerable consumer in our legal system.

And in ninth place, we will approve the Draft Law on Democratic Memory, as an essential measure in reaffirming the dignity and values of our democracy,

In short, the government undertakes to maintain and implement the coalition government agreement over the coming months, over the coming years, while developing the very important exceptional measures associated with the socio-economic situation caused by the pandemic.

But none of this will be possible if we don't provide ourselves with a budgetary framework that is essential to sustain this effort. We are facing a situation that is highly demanding, unprecedented in the last 70 years of our country, in the last 100 years of the history of humanity, with a pandemic that is affecting all countries, which Is why we are tackling this situation, as I said before, with the utmost exigency and we must do so with resolution and a sense of State, which is what I would also like to ask from the political forces.

The government's task is to draw up a new National Budget, and it is the responsibility of all the political forces to make their necessary contributions to ensure its approval. We cannot win through failure, and that is something that should be made clear. The recovery demands, as well as a European agreement, a new budgetary agreement. That is why I call on all the political forces to pull their weight to ensure that in the next half year we can approve a Budget for the recovery and for social cohesion.

Lastly, I would like to end this section on taking stock with an observation that I feel is important. We have spoken about commitments activated, about actions completed in just six months, and of milestones highlighted to offer continuity to the government agenda in the coming months, as I have just mentioned.

This term of office began with the invocation of four major transformations that guide us - the digital transition, the energy transition, social and territorial cohesion and the full equality of rights for women. Just a few weeks later, the pandemic broke out in the lives of the Spanish people, Europeans and all the citizens of the world. And this placed digitalisation in the spotlight, the imminence of the climate emergency, the need for social cohesion and the important role of women. Exactly the transformations that Spain needs, and which had already been identified in the change in political cycle we underwent two years ago and which now form part of the major transformations that not just our country, but also Europe, is demanding.

Transformations which, if they were then appropriate, have now proven to be essential. Before they were on the national agenda, but now they prevail on the European agenda. Transformations that deserve all of the capabilities and goodwill of our country to be invested in them, in the same way as the union of very different forces have been worthy in a European framework.

Because, after what has happened, no government can again propose their management in the timeframe that is always insufficient for party interests. Many of the measures that we outline today in this exercise in accountability go beyond the framework of this term of office. They thus require stability and commitment from everyone, because they will determine our future, not just over the next three or five years, but the future of the generations to come. And they deserve not only to be known by our people but also their contributions and criticisms, their efforts to achieve the goal of progress and well-being, which is common to all the people of our country.

I believe that the vast majority of our citizens recognise the need and urgency of these four great transformations that I just mentioned - the ecological transition, the digital transition - the invocation of climate change, as I said before - social and territorial cohesion, and full equality between men and women. And I truly believe that, over and above any party rivalries, these four transformations can drum up the backing of the majority of the political forces, because these four transformations are what will enable us to grow strongly and quickly, grow while creating quality jobs, and grow without harming the legacy we pass on down to future generations in environmental and economic terms.

I cannot close off my speech without giving my express and heartfelt thanks to all the public servants that have worked tirelessly at the service of all of the men and women of Spain. Thank you once again for your professionalism, your sacrifice, and I would go further and say for your humanity. And this gratitude has a personal tenor in the case of the ministers on whom it has fallen to carry out the government's work during this exceptional time.

In January, we began government action based on an historic agreement by a progressive coalition government for the first time in the history of our democracy at a State level, which would be complemented by different agreements with other political forces and social stakeholders.

And we did this guided by one vision: to overcome our problems of social and territorial inequality by looking forwards and driving ahead with the force of feminism, digitalisation and the ecological transition.

The outbreak of COVID-19 suddenly changed our immediate priorities. For many weeks, everything boiled down to what was most important - saving lives.

These have been tumultuous months, very tough months for all the people of Spain. And we still have some tough months ahead of us. But we will address them with effort, humility and unity.

Spain has gone through many important changes over the course of its history. And it has always come out of them in the same way, by moving forwards without fear, with solidarity, courage, trusting and with a spirit of community, through unity. Which is why I call for this same attitude in the period ahead of us.

And saying this, State secretary, I will now take any questions from the press.

QUESTION: Sandra Gallardo from RNE. Hello and good afternoon, President of the Government. I wanted to ask you about the news we became aware of yesterday - the departure from Spain of the emeritus King, Juan Carlos. I wanted you to explain to us how this happened, the role you and the government played and whether any member of your government was involved in this decision. And whether you consider that his departure from Spain is the best solution to the situation of Juan Carlos, given that there is an investigation underway. And whether you can confirm that he is indeed in Portugal.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: Well, let's see. In relation to this issue, and this is not the first time I have had the chance to address the public from this press room, when I also mentioned this issue. I have to say five things, which I feel are important, about this issue.

Firstly, the government and I, as President of the Government, express our absolute respect for the decisions that the Royal Household has taken. And we express this absolute respect because the aim, behind this decision taken by the Royal Household, is to distance it from questionable and objectionable conduct by one member of the Royal Household. So, my first thought is for absolute respect for what the decision taken by the Royal Household to distant itself from suspect actions that may indeed by subject to a legal investigation represents. Secondly, I would like to recall something that might seem obvious. In this country, there have been cases of alleged corruption related to political parties, social stakeholders and yet the system of the political parties and the social stakeholders has not been questioned. What do I want to say by this? And in this case, Juan Carlos has clearly said that he is willing to go before the justice system, should that prove necessary, just like any other Spaniard. Hence, it is people who are tried, not institutions. The response, in my opinion, is what corresponds to a strict democracy. I have said this on many other occasions, the media have played their part, they have not turned a blind eye, they have reported these alleged unlawful practices, the have brought them before the Spanish public, and the judges and prosecutors are now acting. Thirdly, the Royal Household has distanced itself, as I said before, from this alleged misconduct, which may be unlawful. Fourth, Spain needs, as it has always needed, particularly in a time like now, with a pandemic such as humanity has not seen in the last 100 years, stability and strong institutions. And strong institutions must subscribe to exemplary conduct, transparency and regeneration. In this regard, I believe that the line taken by the Royal Household, which we have seen in the last few hours is, in my opinion, the right one. And lastly, I have said this publicly, but I wish to underline this, the government I head up considers the Constitutional Pact to be fully valid. As regards your last question, I have no information on that.

QUESTION: Patricia Arce, from EFE. Hello and good afternoon, President of the Government. Let me come back to the question from Sandra, and if you can indeed tell us what your role has been in this whole process, and if you can give us any details in this regard. And I would like you to comment on the words spoken by the Second Vice-President of the Government who was very harsh yesterday saying what the former King, Juan Carlos, has done, and that he was indecently fleeing. The minister, Irene Montero, also complained that the ministers of Podemos were unaware of the decision taken by the emeritus King. I wanted to know if you informed the political parties. And then, just one more thing about the coalition government. Yesterday, there was a significant amount of tension between, above all, the ministers of Podemos, who complained of their dialogue with the party Ciudadanos. How will you address the budgetary negotiations with Ciudadanos taking into account that part of the government does not feel represented in this dialogue?

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: Thank you very much, Patricia. In relation to the question you mentioned, the matters of the meetings between the Head of State and the President of the Government are discreet, they are confidential, and hence they will remain just that. What I can say as President of the Government is that of course we respect the decision taken by the Royal Household because we consider that this indeed shows a distancing from a string of alleged conduct that is susceptible of being described as unlawful. Aside from that, we have nothing more to add.

As regards the budgetary debate, let's see. I feel that we are all well aware that the socio-economic crisis stemming from the health emergency we are immersed in - and which is still not over - employing the 2018 Budget from a previous administration, cannot be responded to effectively and fairly as the Government of Spain aspires to do. Hence, the question should be, What political parties are prepared to pull their weight in this critical situation, which is unprecedented in the recent history of our country? That is the question. What political parties are prepared to pull their weight? Of course, the basis of the National Budget, as I said, and I referred to this in my earlier speech, are the coalition government agreements. The roadmap. And this must obviously be firmed up in a draft budget. But remember, there are 355 seats. For those citizens that don't necessarily have the figure in their heads, because they are thinking about other things, we need 176 seats. Hence, we need an additional 21 seats and votes. We will talk with all the political forces, with each and every party and we will ask them to take the high ground, and pull their weight. In short, to take the high ground and pull their weight. In short, when it is a question of the general interest, the national interest, I would say, which is the case of this recovery Budget, there are no limits on signing up. All those political parties that want to pull their weight are welcome.

QUESTION: Juan Ruiz, from EL PERIÓDICO. I wanted to insist on one thing you have already been asked which is why you didn't inform your coalition partners of the departure of the emeritus King from Spain? And then, also about Ciudadanos. Would you thus say that Podemos, with their criticisms of the possibility of Ciudadanos supporting the Budget, is pulling its weight? Thank you.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: Absolutely. I have said this on many occasions. I am frankly satisfied with the work of the coalition government. This is a government that has had to face, since the outset, the worst pandemic, the worst health emergency, in the last 100 years. I am satisfied and proud of the work of each of the ministers of this coalition government. Of course I am. And, in fact, the draft National Budget must be a draft law based and founded on the government agreement forged between the Socialist Party and Unidas Podemos. And, as regards your first question, Juan, I want to repeat what I said earlier - they are discreet talks that I have with the Head of State. And that is how they will remain. But of course, I can say to you as the President of the Government, that what I have to do, and do, because, moreover, I believe in that, is respect the decision taken by the Royal Household. I believe that the message of distancing themselves and employing a course of exemplary behaviour and transparency will be applauded and acknowledged by the vast majority of people in our country, regardless of who they vote for in elections. And I would also say, and I repeat this, that this government, and myself as President of the Government, consider that the Constitutional Pact remains fully valid.

QUESTION: Cristina de la Hoz, from EL INDEPENDIENTE. Hello, good afternoon, Mr Sánchez. At any event, I would like to know how it is possible that what the government feels about a group that advocates the need to come out in defence of institutions regarding another group that says, according to the question asked by Patricia, that what we have witnessed has been an indecent departure by a former Head of State and also advocates opening up a debate on the republic. I don't know how it is possible to live side-by-side in the same government, with such different positions on something that is as fundamental as the State model. And also, as a result of the meeting held with Ciudadanos, Unidas Podemos has said that what has been embodied here is something, in relation to him fleeing, whereby two governments exist in one. Do you harbour any feeling that there are two governments in one? And a quick question about the King. Have you at any time considered the possibility of taking away the emeritus King title? Could this be the next step? And although you cannot give us any more information about where he has gone to live, I believe this is something that everyone is entitled to know. What will be the sources of financing henceforth for the emeritus King? He has no allocation and lives outside of Zarzuela Palace. Thank you.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: Thank you very much, Cristina. That is a lot of questions. Some I can clearly answer, because I have the facts to hand, but other I can't, because I don't. But I would say to you as regards co-existence that this is a coalition government. And coalition governments have a roadmap, and there is a clear commitment, which is signed and stamped in the government agreement, and that is our roadmap. Clearly we have our differences on other questions because we are two different parties, and we have two different political cultures, but the Socialist Party is also the only party that still remains from the 1978 Constitutional Pact. We are the architects of the Spanish Constitution. That is why I call on the role and validity of the Constitutional Pact. And one of the keystones of this Constitutional Pact is clearly a parliamentary monarchy. And hence, what we defend and advocate is this Constitutional Pact. Hence, our co-existence comes from this government agreement, which is public, and all the people of Spain are aware of this. Aside from that, obviously on other questions we are two different political parties which have different opinions and even different ways of addressing each one of these challenges, or each of these problems.

As regards the National Budget, I would like to say to you the following. Here we have a dilemma. Either we address the economic recovery with the 2018 Budget, or we address the economic recovery and the transformations that our country needs with the funds from Europe or with a new National Budget. If it was imperative in the health emergency to approve the state of emergency, then it is imperative in the socio-economic emergency stemming from this health emergency to have a new Budget. And hence, the question we should ask all the political formations is, what side do you want to be on? Whether they want to pull their weight or not. And in this regard, I advocate the validity, as I did before, of the government agreement and obviously, since we need to extend this support, we will speak with all the political forces. And they will tell us whether they want to pull their weight or not. If they want to help at this time, which is critical for the history of our country, not for the Government of Spain but for the Spanish people as a whole. I said in my investiture speech, and I have said this on each and every occasion when I have had the chance to give a speech, that this was going to be the legislature of dialogue. It has been at a social level, with the agreements with the trade unions and business organisations. It has been at an institutional level, with 15 Conferences of Regional Presidents and with the agreement we have signed today with the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. It has been at a European level, with the unprecedented and historic agreement to disburse 140 billion euros for Spain over the next six years to undertake the great transformations facing us. And hence, it must also be for Parliament. In Europe, we have reached an agreement with governments with absolutely opposing political leanings, and found a balance to the benefit of the whole of the European Union. So we should be able to do this in Spain as well. I obviously won't throw in the towel. I am telling you that I won't throw in the towel. We will speak with all the political forces, because I believe that the challenge is worthwhile. We are facing a very serious health, economic and social crisis. We will have some very tough months ahead of us, and I believe that what the Spanish people want is to see their institutions and their political parties united. Now is precisely the time that requires and justifies this attitude, this precise time that our country is going through.

QUESTION: Cristina de la Hoz, from EL INDEPENDIENTE. The title of emeritus King …

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: I have told you that I can answer some questions but not others. I appreciate that you want to make a headline out of this, but I won't give you the opportunity.

QUESTION: Juan Antonio Nicolay, from NIUS DIARIO. President of the Government, I also wanted my question to be recorded. Do you have any idea of where the emeritus King is and where his final place of residence will be? Just to be transparent. And I also wanted to know if his departure has been agreed with Moncloa and whether it contains a commitment from the emeritus King to balance his accounts with the Treasury, which is perhaps a matter you may be aware of. And after two straight disagreements with Podemos, the first regarding the meeting with Ciudadanos and the second regarding this matter of the King, I was wondering whether this relationship has deteriorated, apart from what you have said about the coalition.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: I truly stress that this is not the case. I can honestly say this when taking stock. This is a government that is not just a coalition but one with just one colour. We have tackled a pandemic together, freed up 200 billion euros and approved the Minimum Living Income. We have approved the Law to Fight Violence against Children, we have removed taxation from many groups, stepped up the fight against gender-based violence, even during the pandemic and the lockdown. In short, I believe that we have truly done a more than reasonable job. And I stress, I am very proud, and I say this with all my heart - which is not a politically correct expression - to have been, and be, the President of a Government, watching my ministers work night and day to address the most serious social, economic and health emergency that humanity has seen in the last 100 years. Let's be aware of the situation we are in. I appreciate that you make statements about this and that but, let me stress, there is a very serious social, economic and health crisis that the Government of Spain has provided a more than reasonable response to. With a very clear roadmap and philosophy, which was to save lives, defend public health and not leave anyone behind. Hence, from the point of view of my conviction, as President of the Government, of the functioning of the coalition government, I can say, with all humility, that I am frankly satisfied. We still have some very tough months ahead of us for all the people of Spain. Some very tough months, I have always said this clearly. I don't want to hide the gravity of the situation we are going through and which many households are suffering from, which are probably watching us from their TV screens at home. We have gone through an unprecedented situation, with a great deal of anguish, and hence what we must do is offer certainties, stability and be aware that we have a roadmap for recovery ahead of us that may also be a great opportunity to transform our country into something better. And of course, that is what the Government of Spain seeks to do. Hence, from the perspective of a government reflection, I will answer the same thing to you and to anyone else, because I truly believe that.

And in relation to your first question, I stress, the conversations between the Royal Household, the Head of State, and me as the President of the Government, have a scope of confidentiality and discretion that I will obviously respect.

QUESTION: ELDIARIO.ES: I wish to insist on the question that Cristian de la Hoz asked. I would like to know who is paying, at this time, for the security of the emeritus King, whether it is the State, and whether the State is paying out any form of allocation to the emeritus King, aside from this security. And then you say that you don't know, that you don't have information regarding his whereabouts. I would like to know whether you care about his whereabouts, whether you care if he is in one country or another. Thank you.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: I honestly believe that the most important thing is that Juan Carlos has said that he will stand trial before the justice system, like any other Spaniard and that it will correspond to him, or to the Royal Household to provide information on his whereabouts, and not to the Government of Spain - we are talking here about different institutions.

By the way, the public accounts are contained in the National Budget, where you can see all the contributions to and financing of the Royal Household.

QUESTION: Inma, from EXPANSIÓN: Good afternoon, I had several questions. Firstly, I wanted to ask you if you are aware that some of the political commitments with Unidas Podemos are not in line with the recommendations from Brussels. I speak, for example, about the labour reform. Could this affect how this fits in and could this fall outside of this term of office. Secondly, I wanted to ask you about the fact that on other occasions you spoke about tax hikes, but you haven't mentioned them now. I wanted to know at what time in this term of office you will announce them. And lastly, I wanted to ask you about the ESM and what would have to happen for you decide to request aid under this facility. Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: As regards your first question, if you read the recommendations made by the European Union, for example in the European Semesters of 2019 and 2020, which are the ones referred to, then you will see that they speak about what I have been speaking about - the digital transition, the ecological transition, even a structural transformation such as the Minimum Living Income. This is a structural transformation because one of the recommendations that Europe has always made is that we need to make much more effective our system to guarantee income for those people who are excluded. This was in the hands of the regional governments. This was one of the complaints that the European Union always stated in its recommendations to Spain, and we have made this a reality. So, I would refute this. In other words, I honestly believe that the commitments and goals set by the Government of Spain are the same as those set by the European Union.

In relation to the labour reform, as I said before, social dialogue, and more social dialogue. This is the legislature of dialogue after the pandemic, and more so as a result of the socio-economic emergency. And I believe we are making great strides. You must remember that the minimum wage rise was achieved through social dialogue. You must remember that all the extensions to the Temporary Lay-off Plans were achieved through social dialogue. You must remember that the benefits for the cessation of activity of independent contractors, which covered, at the most critical point of the health emergency, almost 1.5 million independent contractors, in other words, half of the independent contractors that pay in to the RETA of the social security system, have been covered by an unprecedented benefit in the history of our country, all through social dialogue and consensus. Hence, we will continue along this line.

As regards the tax hike, I believe that the Vice-President of the Government, just a few days ago, in an interview she gave to the daily newspaper La Vanguardia, made this clear - all of the goals are now set out in the economic recovery. All of the goals of our economic policy are tied in to the economic recovery and to job creation. When we reach a point whereby we have bedded down the economic recovery, and have levels of economic growth as we did before the pandemic, then we will clearly have the guarantees, the economic context to address a necessary structural reform. There are people who like structural reforms, but when we are talking about the reform of the tax system, which is a structural reform, then they don't like it. But we must do this because out of a sense of justice, there are a great many people who consider than there are people who pay less taxes than others, despite being wealthy, and we obviously need to have a collection system that is much more sustainable, much more stable over the economic cycle, because our public deficit is obviously going to rise and we will have a huge public debt to sustain companies and workers during the pandemic. So, when the economic recovery is bedded down, and when we have GDP levels similar to those before the pandemic, then we will have to undertake this structural reform. For those that like structural reforms, this is one of them. Conservative agendas never speak about this structural reform, but it is important, because we must not come out of this crisis with a weakened Welfare State. We must come out of it with a stronger health system.

And as regards the ESM, I don't understand your question properly. We have backed the creation of the ESM. Spain will sign up to the European unemployment reinsurance scheme that we proposed and was approved by the Eurogroup.

Hence, we now have the Recovery Fund. I appreciate that there are people who believe that by having this they can now look at whether Spain has been bailed out or not. But this is a semantic that I care little for.

We are going to sign up to the European unemployment reinsurance scheme because we want to protect workers under Temporary Lay-off Plans. The opposition will say that this is a bailout. And I agree - this is a bailout of workers who need public support and we will give this to them with our own resources, as we have to date, investing more than 4 billion euros a month to protect the jobs of millions of workers in our country. And we will now tackle this cost with European solidarity, of course we will.

And by the way, this matter of the ESM you mentioned is for health expenses. In principle, we, with the (...) that we have and the volumes of resources we are investing, I feel that there is no need.

QUESTION: Noelia Hontoria, from ONDA MADRID. Thank you and good afternoon, President of the Government, I want to insist on some questions my colleagues have asked. Aside from the discretion that your talks must have with King Felipe VI, have you been disloyal in not communicating this decision to the members of your government from Unidos Podemos? Is that because you don't trust them? Does the government know how Juan Carlos I will support himself abroad, taking into account that his allocation as emeritus King was taken away? Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: I repeat, you can ask me and I will answer the same as I did before. These meetings are confidential. There is obviously a degree of confidentiality between the Royal Household and me as the President of the Government, which is my obligation; I must respect the decisions taken by the Royal Household, in this case by the Head of State, and also the timing of when the Royal Household decides to make some of these questions you refer to public.

QUESTION: ARA. Good afternoon, President of the Government. I wanted to know what would have to happen for the government to propose that the Spanish people speak about the continuity of the monarchy. And on a different note, yesterday the Lower House presented a draft reform of the offence of sedition, which basically talks about violence with weapons. I wanted to know what the Socialist Party feels of this and if it likes the draft law.

PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT: I haven't heard about this, I haven't had time. I honestly haven's read this; I haven't had time so I can express no opinion. What everyone knows is that the Government of Spain has its roadmap - an amendment of the Criminal Code, which also includes some of these questions you have mentioned. As regards your first question, I repeat, the government I head up defends the Constitutional Pact, which means a parliamentary monarchy. Clearly we advocate robust institutions, institutional stability and this requires transparency and an exemplary nature.

And I believe that the step taken yesterday by the Royal Household is designed to distance it from alleged practices that we will see resolved and which may be subject to judicial reproach.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)

Non official translation