MADRID (AFP) — Re-elected Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Saturday the struggle against armed Basque separatist group ETA and the economic slowdown are his future government's priorities.
Zapatero's Socialist party won a general election March 9 with what he said is a sufficient majority for governing "with autonomy", taking 169 seats, seven short of an absolute majority in the 350-seat parliament.
In a speech to his party's federal committee, Zapatero said one of his government's priorities will be to fight "against ETA's terrorism" following failed talks with the armed group in 2006 and ongoing violence.
Although Zapatero said it had not been possible to end ETA's attacks during his first four-year term, but added, "this must be the case in the next four years, until ETA completely disappears."
The future socialist government must also "stimulate the economy in this slowdown period which, we hope, will be limited in its length and effects", said Zapatero.
After years of strong growth and falling unemployment, the international financial crisis, coupled with the end of the Spanish construction and real estate boom, have left the country's economy dragging its heels and sparked a slight increase in joblessness.
The president specifically called for a reduction in temporary work, improved integration of women into the job market, and also committed his government to raising minimum pensions as well as improving employment and housing for young people.
While Zapatero did not shed light on the make-up of the next government he said he was working towards making it "as functional as possible".
In his speech, the leader also paid homage to the former Socialist politician from the Basque city of Mondragon, Isaias Carrasco, who was killed in an attack blamed on ETA leading up to the elections.
Meanwhile the centre-right Basque Nationalist party (PNV) opened the way Saturday for a change in strategy following its poor performance in the elections, in which it lost 100,000 votes.
PNV president Inigo Urkullu said in a statement that his party was taking into account the message from the electorate and in spring will launch its new strategy "Basque Country 2020".
The Spanish Socialist party made gains on PNV in the Basque Country, taking nine seats against PNV's six.
The election results in the region could force the PNV to tone down its separatist claims.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
