Lower House of Parliament, Madrid
In the first day of the debate on the vote of no confidence presented by the VOX Parliamentary Group, which proposed the MP Santiago Abascal as candidate for the Presidency of the Government of Spain, the President of the Government argued the need to not "divert energies" at a time in which "we must all be united and resolute in combating the real problems and challenges facing" Spain and Europe.
Among these challenges, Pedro Sánchez quoted the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic and social emergency, climate change, digitalisation, European integration, strengthening the Welfare State, the institutional architecture of Spain and improving the State of the Autonomies to contribute to a harmonious climate.
The government, argued the President of the Government, is responding to these needs with the largest raft of social and economic measures in Spain's history, the Conferences of Regional Presidents, sector meetings with the regional authorities and the agreements reached thanks to social dialogue.
Pedro Sánchez added that the government has a four-year programme aimed at reducing inequalities, defending public services and human rights, enhancing cohesion and territorial dialogue and the fight against the climate emergency.
Second day of the debate
In the second day of the debate, Pedro Sánchez appealed to the "real Spain", which is called on to move forwards and to "overcome the huge challenge of a health crisis that has not been seen in a century and an unprecedented socio-economic crisis in the last 80 years".
The President of the Government stressed that the ideas and values that must inspire the future of the country are democracy, liberty and dialogue, public services and social protection, Europe, equality, the law and the rule of law.
Pedro Sánchez also argued that, faced with a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all "need to respond together" with strong and legitimate institutions. To this end, he called on the parliamentary groups to reject the vote of no confidence and turn it into an opportunity to build.
Renewal of institutions
During the course of his speech, the President of the Government announced that "the clock will be stopped on the reform of the election system of the judiciary to facilitate dialogue and consensus" with other political groups. He also advocated the renewal of the Constitutional Court and the Ombudsman to the benefit of the Constitution, democracy and citizenship. "We need understanding and dialogue", he underlined.
As in his speech on Wednesday, Pedro Sánchez committed to pushing through the major transformations that Spain needs. The ecological transition, as a source of wellbeing, prosperity and job creation; the digitalisation of the economy, vocational training, science, the Toledo Pact, the job market, social cohesion and equality between men and women.
"Spain must not take a backward step, it cannot accept this. This is a country that does not need a saviour because it has millions of saviours", concluded the President of the Government.
Non official translation
