Europe

Europe

Zapatero dissolves Spanish Parliament ahead of general election

26 September 2011 22:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Spanish prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero officially dissolved the country’s Parliament (Cortes) on Monday, months ahead of the General Election to be held on November 20, four months earlier than originally planned, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

In a speech following a cabinet meeting, Zapatero assured that his country would be able to climb out of the economic crisis which has left over 4.1 million Spaniards out of work.

"Day after day, it is shown that we are a great country, I am totally confident in Spain and in the Spanish people. We are all necessary and we all have a role to play in our history as a nation and we all have the capacity to show commitment to the future of the country," said Zapatero.

"I am confident that Spain will come out of the problems, sooner rather than later," he added.

The Spanish Prime Minister, who came to power in March 2004, added that he did not intend to take any further action over the economy between now and the due election, but added that he would do so if it was made necessary by circumstances.

He said he believed Spain was gaining confidence in the international markets, after it withstood heavy pressure in recent months and weeks.

"We know we have a difficult European context, as a result of the uncertainty over Greece, but our prediction is that the credibility of Spain in the international markets and institutions has been strengthened," he commented.

Zapatero also highlighted recent events in the Basque country, where the collective of prisoners from the separatist group ETA signed an agreement asking for an end to violence and admitting the need for recognition and compensation for victims of ETA violence which had claimed 829 lives since the 1960s.

"It is a significant step towards the end of violence: with all of the prudence that the subject demands, we are convinced that this is the moment," he said.

The new session of the Cortes will be convened on December 13.