"Austerity, recovery and reform"
Rubalcaba pledges to push economic measures as new deputy PM
Newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba reiterated yesterday that the government will push forward with its current economic policies and job-creation plans, adding that he would concentrate on better coordination between Cabinet members.
"This government has many days left to work to improve the lives of its citizens," he said during a swearing-in ceremony in the presence of King Juan Carlos. "From now on, you will continuously hear these words: austerity, reform, social cohesion and recovery."
The 59-year-old Cantabria native, who will continue serving as interior minister while taking on new duties, was sworn in along with four other ministers and a new Cabinet secretary. They are part of a major Cabinet shakeup announced on Wednesday by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in an effort to restore confidence in his Socialist government and convince Spaniards of the need for his austerity measures.
"We cannot sit still; this is a moment of big changes for Spain"
The other new Cabinet members are Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez, Health Minister Leire Pajín, Labor Minister Valeriano Gómez, Environment Minister Rosa Aguilar and Cabinet Secretary Ramón Jáuregui. Rubalcaba, who replaces María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, praised his predecessor and, during an emotional part of the ceremony, promised her that he would continue "all her work."
"Not only will there not be any delays, but also everything that you had planned will be done as planned," he told her.
Jáuregui, a member of the European Parliament before his appointment, pledged to work hand-in-hand with Rubalcaba to ensure that Spaniards are given a better quality of life.
"We cannot sit still," Jáuregui said. "This is a moment of big changes for Spain."
Socialists demand PP mayor apologize for "cheeks" remark
"She is a well-trained girl, skillful, unobtrusive, who will distribute condoms left and right, wherever she goes." That was how Valladolid Mayor Javier León de la Riva of the Popular Party (PP) described new Health Minister Leire Pajín on Thursday. "Every time I see that face and those cheeks, I think of something, but I am not going to say what." After making these comments on radio, he was called on by the Socialist Party to apologize and resign.
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