Pedro Sánchez highlights that Spain has deployed 'the largest social safety net in the EU' against the war

The president reaffirms his government's "no to war" stance regarding the conflict in Iran and defends the measures adopted in a scenario "much worse" than that of Iraq in 2003.

Lower House of Parliament

The President of the Government of Spain appears before the Lower House of Parliament (Pool Congreso)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, defended in the Lower House of Parliament the government's actions to address the consequences of the war in the Middle East, a conflict against which Spain has erected "the largest social and economic safety net in the entire European Union."

During his appearance in the chamber, President Sánchez explained that, as happened at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the government has approved a Comprehensive Response Plan to the Crisis in the Middle East, which will be voted on this week in parliament, "with a safety net of 5 billion euros in direct aid, tax exemptions, and bold policies to protect 20 million households and 3 million businesses."

"We don't choose the crises, but we do choose how to get out of them: with greater protection," added Pedro Sánchez, who reiterated the government's "no to war" stance, which it has maintained since the beginning of the conflict in Iran. "Patriotism means opposing an illegal war that in no way benefits the interests of Spaniards or Europeans," declared the president, for whom Spain is now an international benchmark in the defence of peace and international law.

Use of Spanish military bases, evacuations and humanitarian aid

During his address, the President of the Government of Spain reviewed the various areas in which the government has worked "tirelessly" to protect Spanish citizens from the consequences of the conflict.

"First, we have denied the United States the use of the Rota and Morón bases for this war," Pedro Sánchez recalled. "All flight plans that included actions related to the operation in Iran have been rejected. All of them. Including those for refuelling aircraft." A decision that, he noted, "was not easy" but was made "because we are a sovereign country that does not want to participate in illegal wars."

The President of the Government of Spain also referred to the evacuation of the 8,000 Spaniards who were trapped in Iran and the Gulf countries, and to the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected countries such as Lebanon.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, along with the ministers María Jesús Montero and Yolanda Díaz| Pool Congreso

Greater energy autonomy and more diplomacy

In addition, specific measures have been activated to accelerate the energy transition. "Because, if the crises caused by the wars in Ukraine and Iran have demonstrated anything, it is that the less we depend on gas and oil, the more autonomous we will be as a country and the more resilient we will be to these kinds of energy shocks that we are experiencing."

The last line of action mentioned by the president was diplomacy. "We were the first to raise our voices in the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council," stated Pedro Sánchez, who also recalled his conversations with the leaders of some thirty countries to try to de-escalate the conflict. "And we did so because we are convinced that international law, multilateralism, and diplomacy are the best tools we have to stop the war and foster peace."

A scenario "much worse" than Iraq

During his address, the President of the Government of Spain recalled the Iraq War, which in 2003 sparked opposition from "more than 3 million citizens throughout Spain," and warned that the current conflict presents a "much worse" scenario, with a potential reach "much broader and deeper."

In this regard, he stressed that Iran is a military power with "more regular soldiers than Germany, France, and Italy combined," in addition to advanced technology capable of destroying aircraft in flight, launching long-range missiles, and exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his appearance before the Plenary of the Lower House of Parliament| Pool Congreso

The head of the Executive detailed the consequences of the first month of a conflict about which "no one knows for sure what will happen": bombings have hit more than 3,000 strategic targets and destroyed more than 40,000 homes, as well as hospitals, schools, and energy infrastructure. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed and more than 4 million displaced in Iran and Lebanon.

In the Spanish economy, he continued, the impact has translated into a 35% increase in diesel prices and a 95% increase in gas prices, as well as a 9% drop in the IBEX 35, with losses exceeding 100 billion euros for companies. "In short: this is an absolute disaster," the president concluded, emphasising the work the government is doing to address the situation.

Non official translation

More Info

• Aid from the Immediate Response, Reconstruction and Relaunching Plan
• Transcript of the speech by the President of the Government of Spain

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