Pedro Sánchez calls for a legislature of dialogue to resolve pending questions of State

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

During the control session in the Lower House, Pedro Sánchez advocated addressing the territorial question through the channel of dialogue after the "appalling" results of confrontational politics.

Only two options exist to resolving this challenge and many others facing Spanish society, argued the President of the Government in response to a question raised by Pablo Casado, from the People's Parliamentary Group. The first alternative, remarked Pedro Sánchez, is to continue with confrontation and division which have led to a major social breakdown and the breakdown of co-existence in Catalonia and throughout the country. The other alternative is "to give rapprochement, dialogue and consensus a chance", he stated.

The President of the Government added that dialogue between the government and the opposition is as important as territorial dialogue. The President of the Government expressed his interest in forging agreements to address questions of State during the term of office, such as on the sustainability of the public pension system, the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary and regional financing.

Redressing democratic memory and justice for victims

In response to Gabriel Rufián, from the Republican Parliamentary Group, the President of the Government stressed that democratic memory should also be a State policy, as well as a cross-cutting pillar of the government's action.

Pool Moncloa/JMCuadradoPedro Sánchez pointed out that this policy should ratify the contribution to democracy of those people who were murdered during the Franco dictatorship and support those people who are still searching for the remains of victims "in numerous ditches throughout the country". The President of the Government announced that the government will "channel" economic resources into exhuming their remains.

The government will also modernise the Historical Memory Act to rectify "loopholes" detected in recent years and ensure greater transparency, redress democratic memory and seek justice for the victims of the Franco regime, explained Pedro Sánchez. The changes planned include the need to do away with the recognition of those people related to the Franco regime who tortured their victims in Spain.

And in relation to the former President of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Lluís Companys, the President of the Government recalled that the Council of Ministers that was held in Barcelona already recognised him and denounced the court martial that ruled to execute him in 1940.

Democracy and reconciliation in Venezuela

The President of the Government declared that the Minister for Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, José Luis Ábalos, complied with his duty in averting a diplomatic crisis when he met with the Vice-President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport.

In his response on the matter to a question posed by Santiago Abascal, from the Vox Parliamentary Group, Pedro Sánchez underlined that the aim of the Government of Spain is for "rapprochement, democracy and reconciliation in Venezuela". He also quoted statements by the Acting President of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, to maintain the best possible relations with Spain, which he considers to be an ally in democracy and liberty

Non official translation