“Defending national unity” one of Rajoy’s main conditions for reaching government alliances

Barcelona (CNA).- Current Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy believes that “Spain’s unity is threatened” and he has therefore established the defence of national integrity as one of the main points of the People’s Party (PP) proposal for reaching government alliances. Besides fighting Catalonia’s push for independence, Rajoy’s proposal also includes fighting towards economic recovery, strengthening the basis of the welfare state, fighting against terrorism and reinforcing the democratic bond between citizens and politicians. PP’s leader handed over the document to anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans leader Albert Rivera, with whom he held a meeting today. The proposal has also been sent to Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez, who is currently attempting to form government. According to Rajoy, an alliance between PSOE, alternative left Podemos, which he described as “radical”, and the pro-independence supporters “would be the worst thing for the Spanish citizens”.  

Rajoy’s proposal includes an “agreement for institutional strengthening” which establishes “the absolute refusal of sovereigntist processes of any kind” as well as “any attempt at consultation or a referendum opposing the legal and constitutional system and [which is] aimed towards extracting the sovereign will of the Spanish citizens”. The document doesn’t foresee any potential reform of the Spanish Constitution.

Spain’s national unity “is threatened, just as some take it upon themselves to remind us” stated Rajoy during his appearance before the media right after his meeting with Rivera, “otherwise it wouldn’t be necessary to defend and reinforce the Constitution”.

Rajoy’s proposal also includes fighting towards economic recovery, strengthening the basis of the welfare state, fighting against terrorism and reinforcing the democratic bond between citizens and politicians.

PP and Ciutadans in good harmony

Rajoy assured that he is “in line with” Rivera and hoped that if there is already “an agreement on the what, it will now be time to start working on the how”. “We should make an effort” he admitted and added that he expected to start creating the “work teams” between PP and Ciutadans next week.

For his part, Rivera insisted that he hasn’t changed his mind regarding PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez’s investiture. He also denied having asked Rajoy to abstain from voting in the investiture debate to facilitate Sánchez’s instatement. Rivera also reproached Rajoy for the lack of measures to fight corruption specified in his proposal.

Rajoy to meet with PSOE’s leader on Friday

On Friday Rajoy will meet PSOE’s leader, Pedro Sánchez, to whom he has already sent the PP’s proposal. According to Rajoy, “the only alternative” to the great state agreement which he is offering would be an alliance between PSOE, alternative left Podemos, which he described as “radical”, and the pro-independence supporters, which “would be the worst thing for the Spanish citizens”.