Conference Of Regional Presidents Fails To Reach An Accord

The Partido Popular has refused to support the Government plans for the economy and against unemployment.

The Prime Minister has in turn accused the Partido Popular of ‘a lack of loyalty and institutional maturity’ for blocking an agreement against the recession. Prime Minister Zapatero proposed cross-party working group be established to work against the recession, but this proved unsuccessful.

The PP abstained in the vote during the fourth conference of the regional presidents of Spain which was held in Madrid on Monday, and where debate was largely concerned with improving the Country’s economy.

Esperanza Aguirre, The PP President for the Madrid region, explained her opposition by saying ‘I don’t want to take responsibility for the policies of the champion of unemployment’.

Pedro Sanz - the PP President of La Rioja, stated ‘We have given the Government a lesson’ and Francisco Camps from Valencia said that the PP had made an intelligent proposal, but there was no way forward. They all blame Zapatero for the lack of any agreement.

The indecision concerning talks on the economy and the stand against unemployment hampers the Prime Minister’s strategy for a unified stance against the issues, described by the PP as coming from utopia. Prime Minister Zapatero has, however said he will continue with the Government measures ‘with more or less help’. ‘We are dedicated to these reforms until the last consequences’, he said.