Rajoy and Merkel following their joint appearance. / AP / REUTERS-LIVE!
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday offered a resounding support for Mariano Rajoy in various fields. The most clear and present, so that the Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, the next president of the Eurogroup. “It was an excellent economy minister in Spain in hard times. We support chairing the Eurogroup, “Merkel said after his meeting with the Prime Minister in Santiago de Compostela.
Rajoy, who used the meeting to negotiate the new distribution of power in the EU, also defended the former Minister of Agriculture Miguel Arias Cañete is commissioner. He explained that he has already sent a letter to Jean-Claude Juncker explaining that Cañete is your candidate. Merkel supported neither expressly rejected Cañete, who might have difficulty passing the filter of the European Parliament following his remarks about sexism. The chancellor is simply noted that Spain decides which candidate proposed for the Commission.
Merkel’s visit was a political boost for Rajoy and his economic policy, and both defended their commitment to austerity and the “hard and difficult” reforms. But the chancellor, which always showed a great Rajoy as his ally, did not stop there and supported him even in matters of domestic policy, such as the Catalan crisis. “This is a matter of Spanish domestic politics, but what he says Rajoy on Catalonia is logical that should be supported, but I say that with reservations being a head of government of another country.”
position of the Spanish president, who spoke immediately before, was blunt: “Not going to hold any referendum illegal, in any way. Spain is a serious country, the rule of law, there is a law and a constitution and one of the basic duties of a Prime Minister is to ensure that the law is enforced. It is nonsense what is being proposed right now, and it is profoundly negative for the Catalan society and the Spanish society. “
Merkel had already shown in July its support for Rajoy on the subject, in a statements in Germany, where it was even clearer. “We defend the territorial integrity of all states, which is something totally different regions to become independent and they are organized. I agree on this point the position of the Spanish government. “
Rajoy also took a question to make it quite clear that it intends to proceed with its proposed reform of the electoral law to make it more directly elected mayor vote if over 40% of the vote, even without the support of the PSOE.
“Some are criticizing the reform before it arises. This matter came to be in the program of the PSOE [posed a double round] and is the system they have in some EU countries. It will not be so bad. I’m meeting with the members of my party, try to talk with other political forces, but it better be mayor chosen by the citizens that one result of an agreement between three, four or five games. It is much more respectful of the will of the people “
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Never will modify the electoral law by majority. There is a basic consensus that we must preserve “
Mariano Rajoy
These statements, pointing to a reform even loneliness that many in the PP wish, in contrast to what the president said in February 2013: “I never will modify the electoral law by majority. I can raise or lower the income tax, but in any case the electoral law. There is no basic consensus that must be preserved, “he said then. Now the PP tries to convince the PSOE, but if it does Rajoy looks set to go ahead with an initiative that has recovered after the European elections, following the success of the can and drop PP and PSOE, which predict an uncertain outcome municipal May 2015.
The press conference with Merkel drew a kind of partnership both in favor of the policies of austerity and reforms, compared to debates in France and Italy. In fact, Merkel repeatedly used Spain as an example of the “difficult reforms” that is, the recortes- give results. Rajoy endorsed this idea: “In Spain we begin to see the fruits of the reforms we have carried out in close collaboration with Germany and other partners.” Merkel claimed in particular the Spanish labor reform.
As they gathered, came the news of the government crisis in France precisely because of divisions over austerity. Both showed their support for François Hollande, though he made clear message to stick with the settings you have promised. “I wish you every success in Hollande courageous steps being taken and the fulfillment of their commitments,” Merkel said. “Do not go into the problems of France, but I believe the will of Hollande and Valls, because I have said, to make reforms and fulfill their commitments,” he concluded Rajoy.
After several years policy of austerity, the euro zone grows and even German GDP fell 0.4 points in the fourth quarter, while Spain grew 0.6. Asked by this fall and requests to give a twist to the austerity policy, both Merkel and Rajoy defended line maintained until now.
The Chancellor said that the fall of German GDP is somewhat timely and trusting that throughout the year it will grow; So they blamed the fact that in the winter they grew more than expected and so now there is a small dip. “Spain will not have to worry,” he said to ward off the possibility that the slowdown of the German motor can harm the Southern Europe.
The president defended Spanish austerity. “My position on the austerity policy is the same. We must continue with the policies of fiscal consolidation and reforms. Spain will continue to make reforms, although sometimes they are hard and difficult to explain. ” “It is sometimes erroneously said to have more money is needed growth. With less bureaucracy can generate growth, “he explained Merkel
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Sanchez invites Rajoy more jobs and less “place” ministers
The leader of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, Mariano Rajoy has asked not worry so much about “placing” the minister Economy, Luis de Guindos, former Minister of Agriculture and Miguel Arias Cañete in the EU, but by “put to work all institutions to create jobs for all.”
The socialist leader has also criticized between candidates proposed by Rajoy for responsible positions there are no women, and has dismissed the meeting between the two leaders “autocomplaciencia exercise.” In his view, a change in the policies of austerity across Europe, which only cause “more suffering in the form of unemployment” is necessary.
The secretary general of the PSOE has asked that begins to force the European Central Bank to focus on job creation rather than on ensuring price stability. Sanchez claims that public investment in the EU is increasing in countries with a higher unemployment rate to 15%, and that the warranty plan for youth employment is extended to 30 years.
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