Pedro Sánchez: 'We will continue governing so that those who need it most have the support of their Government'

The President of the Government of Spain highlighted the anti-corruption measures introduced by the Government in the Lower House of Parliament. He also emphasised the need for a more ambitious EU budget so that the European Union can defend its interests.

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, stated during his appearance - at his own request - before the plenary session of the Lower House of Parliament to report on the political situation relating to the latest judicial investigations to come to light, that he does not "downplay in the slightest" the importance of cases that are generating "legitimate concern" and "reasonable confusion" among the public. On this point, Pedro Sánchez sought to emphasise that there must be "no room for impunity for corrupt individuals, whoever they may be", whilst stressing, with regard to ongoing legal proceedings, that it is essential not to prejudge the facts and to respect the presumption of innocence.

The head of the Executive recalled the anti-corruption control, oversight and prevention mechanisms that the Government approved a year ago as part of the State Plan to Combat Corruption. Pedro Sánchez argued that the Government "has done its part" by pushing through all its measures, and highlighted the Council of Ministers' approval of the preliminary draft of the Organic Law on Public Integrity last February.

He noted that this initiative is "aligned with European Union recommendations" and has received the backing of the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Division of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Pedro Sánchez added that the bill will be debated in Parliament shortly, and therefore emphasised that responsibility in this area "does not lie solely with the Executive power".

Governing for those who need it most

Against this backdrop, the president defended the Government's efforts to improve people's lives. "I understand and acknowledge the public's anger. I understand their frustration and disappointment. I can understand that, after watching the news for 30 minutes, they might be tempted to think that we're all the same. That it doesn't matter what priorities, ideas or principles those of us in positions of responsibility may have, because in the end it all amounts to the same thing. "But that's not true," he stressed.

As evidence of the Government's achievements, the President highlighted the creation of three and a half million jobs, the promotion of the energy transition, the rise in pension payments and the increase in funding for long-term care. "Repealing is not the same as building," Pedro Sánchez summed up.

The president also acknowledged that the Government's work is not yet complete. He therefore pledged to continue working "to ensure that those who need it most have the support of their Government".

Advocating for an ambitious EU budget

The President began his speech by referring to the decisions taken at the most recent European Council meeting held on 18 and 19 June, a meeting which, as he emphasised, enabled the EU-27 to restore, for the first time since 2024, "unanimous and wholehearted" support for Ukraine, aided, amongst other factors, by Hungary's return to the "European consensus".

Pedro Sánchez also explained that the meeting served to analyse the new geopolitical and economic landscape following the "fragile peace agreement" between the United States and Iran, and to review the initial figures proposed by the Cypriot presidency for the future European Union budget.

The head of the Executive reiterated his support for a 'more ambitious' EU budget than previous ones, arguing that "the EU cannot be expected to do more with fewer financial resources". In his view, the new multiannual financial framework must provide the Union with the necessary tools not only to respond to "Putin's aggression in Ukraine and Eastern Europe", but also to strengthen the social pillar, advance the digital and energy transitions, invest in human capital, protect European agriculture and fisheries, tackle the housing crisis and foster cohesion.

In the face of those who, in his view, seek to return to "the neoliberal Europe of cuts and austerity", Sánchez called for a "strong" Union, capable of defending its interests on a global scale, and made it clear that this objective cannot be achieved "with flags, deregulation and empty slogans", but rather "with an ambitious EU budget".

Non official translation