Canarian Weekly
23-01-2015, 12:40
MARIANO Rajoy believes his term of office as Spanish Prime Minister will end in glory after all his economic woes.
He predicts “fewer unemployed than at the start, and more people working than in 2012”, which would be a major achievement.
On the 75th anniversary of the Agencia EFE, Spain’s International News Agency, Rajoy acknowledged that the economy was the most complicated issue during his last three years in government.
The PM said he was forced to take “very tough decisions” which, fortunately, “many people” understood.
Rajoy said his main objective has been to resolve the unemployment issue, which, he said, “must continue to be the case in the future”.
On a brighter note, he added that conversations were now about how many jobs will be created and not about how many will be lost, predicting boldly: “I expect that the number of National Insurance contributors in 2015 will grow by between 550,000 and 600,000.
“It means that the 400,000 more in 2014, plus these 550,000 or 600,000 more, will amount to approximately one million more National Insurance contributors between 2014 and 2015.”
And Rajoy is convinced that “the worst” of the crisis has been left behind, despite admitting: “We still have many things to do.”
He also insisted that the Government of Spain is maintaining its growth forecast of 2% for 2015, but he also said it was a “cautious forecast because the consensus among analysts and study services today puts this estimate at over 2%”.
But despite the positive data and vibes, the Prime Minister said of the next term of office: “It will need to continue maintaining the policies that have shown themselves to work, and not change those policies and generate stability and confidence in the Spanish economy.”
Not for the first time, he recognised the “great effort” made by the people of Spain in recent years. However, he stressed: “The great public services in our country have been maintained, and that was the main objective.
“Pensions have not been frozen, unemployment benefits have been maintained, healthcare has been maintained and grants were increased by 20% last year.
Spain’s PM said economy improvements had not yet filtered down to the micro-economy, but he feels the general public will see stronger effects from the recovery in 2015.
Regarding a second tax reduction, Rajoy said it would take place in 2016 for Personal and Corporate Income Tax. “I will lower more taxes as soon as I can,” he pledged, recalling that an initial reduction has already taken place in 2015, the effects of which will be seen on January payslips.
As for the early elections in Catalonia, the PM said: “They simply demonstrate and reflect the failure of a certain policy, that has merely generated instability and uncertainty in Catalonia over the last few years.”
He said the 27th September elections were being held “purely for party interests”.
Rajoy denied they were a referendum election, saying: “They are elections to the Regional Parliament of Catalonia. There are no such things as referendum elections, and people should not be tricked into thinking they exist.”
The Spanish Government chief also said: “The vast majority of people in Catalonia are not pro-independence, State participation in Catalonia has been highly effective, and this has enabled the Regional Government of Catalonia to pay its suppliers and tackle its public deficit.
“This is clear evidence that we have a national State that adopts a position of solidarity with all its citizens.
But despite the electoral calendar, Rajoy said: “I have no intention of making any more changes to the government because we are stable and fully capable of governing.”
Rajoy also spoke about the so-called “social agenda of the Government of Spain”, saying: “There is nothing more social than employment – and employment policies are quintessentially social.”
He added. “Pensions, healthcare and education will also be given great importance. Furthermore, the Government of Spain will present a childhood plan, the elderly statute and a family support plan.”
A number of decisions will also be taken concerning care for dependent family members.
Rajoy recognised that the long, economic crisis has resulted in a “deterioration of the main traditional parties, and led to the emergence of political forces that were not previously found in the system”.
However, he stressed that “traditionally-moderate forces always govern” in larger countries, with a higher level of well-being and wealth. This is, he said, “the best way to tackle those problems”.
Rajoy also said that many steps had been taken to combat corruption and added: “There is no impunity. Many of the things now being examined in court are there because they were brought to light.
“the rule of law is working, and that is a reason for us all to be proud, as a country.”
On a completely different tack, Rajoy warmly welcomed an agreement reached with the PSOE party to combat Jihadi terrorism.
“It is common sense and the right thing to do,” he said. “The fight against terrorism requires unity, co-operation and the daily adaptation of legislation to new circumstances as they emerge.”
“Security is entirely compatible with the rights and freedoms of the people.”
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/jobs-abound-rajoy-looks-glory/)
He predicts “fewer unemployed than at the start, and more people working than in 2012”, which would be a major achievement.
On the 75th anniversary of the Agencia EFE, Spain’s International News Agency, Rajoy acknowledged that the economy was the most complicated issue during his last three years in government.
The PM said he was forced to take “very tough decisions” which, fortunately, “many people” understood.
Rajoy said his main objective has been to resolve the unemployment issue, which, he said, “must continue to be the case in the future”.
On a brighter note, he added that conversations were now about how many jobs will be created and not about how many will be lost, predicting boldly: “I expect that the number of National Insurance contributors in 2015 will grow by between 550,000 and 600,000.
“It means that the 400,000 more in 2014, plus these 550,000 or 600,000 more, will amount to approximately one million more National Insurance contributors between 2014 and 2015.”
And Rajoy is convinced that “the worst” of the crisis has been left behind, despite admitting: “We still have many things to do.”
He also insisted that the Government of Spain is maintaining its growth forecast of 2% for 2015, but he also said it was a “cautious forecast because the consensus among analysts and study services today puts this estimate at over 2%”.
But despite the positive data and vibes, the Prime Minister said of the next term of office: “It will need to continue maintaining the policies that have shown themselves to work, and not change those policies and generate stability and confidence in the Spanish economy.”
Not for the first time, he recognised the “great effort” made by the people of Spain in recent years. However, he stressed: “The great public services in our country have been maintained, and that was the main objective.
“Pensions have not been frozen, unemployment benefits have been maintained, healthcare has been maintained and grants were increased by 20% last year.
Spain’s PM said economy improvements had not yet filtered down to the micro-economy, but he feels the general public will see stronger effects from the recovery in 2015.
Regarding a second tax reduction, Rajoy said it would take place in 2016 for Personal and Corporate Income Tax. “I will lower more taxes as soon as I can,” he pledged, recalling that an initial reduction has already taken place in 2015, the effects of which will be seen on January payslips.
As for the early elections in Catalonia, the PM said: “They simply demonstrate and reflect the failure of a certain policy, that has merely generated instability and uncertainty in Catalonia over the last few years.”
He said the 27th September elections were being held “purely for party interests”.
Rajoy denied they were a referendum election, saying: “They are elections to the Regional Parliament of Catalonia. There are no such things as referendum elections, and people should not be tricked into thinking they exist.”
The Spanish Government chief also said: “The vast majority of people in Catalonia are not pro-independence, State participation in Catalonia has been highly effective, and this has enabled the Regional Government of Catalonia to pay its suppliers and tackle its public deficit.
“This is clear evidence that we have a national State that adopts a position of solidarity with all its citizens.
But despite the electoral calendar, Rajoy said: “I have no intention of making any more changes to the government because we are stable and fully capable of governing.”
Rajoy also spoke about the so-called “social agenda of the Government of Spain”, saying: “There is nothing more social than employment – and employment policies are quintessentially social.”
He added. “Pensions, healthcare and education will also be given great importance. Furthermore, the Government of Spain will present a childhood plan, the elderly statute and a family support plan.”
A number of decisions will also be taken concerning care for dependent family members.
Rajoy recognised that the long, economic crisis has resulted in a “deterioration of the main traditional parties, and led to the emergence of political forces that were not previously found in the system”.
However, he stressed that “traditionally-moderate forces always govern” in larger countries, with a higher level of well-being and wealth. This is, he said, “the best way to tackle those problems”.
Rajoy also said that many steps had been taken to combat corruption and added: “There is no impunity. Many of the things now being examined in court are there because they were brought to light.
“the rule of law is working, and that is a reason for us all to be proud, as a country.”
On a completely different tack, Rajoy warmly welcomed an agreement reached with the PSOE party to combat Jihadi terrorism.
“It is common sense and the right thing to do,” he said. “The fight against terrorism requires unity, co-operation and the daily adaptation of legislation to new circumstances as they emerge.”
“Security is entirely compatible with the rights and freedoms of the people.”
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/jobs-abound-rajoy-looks-glory/)