Canal 24 Horas

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Pedro Sánchez agrees confidence and supply plans with opposition​

The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and Citizens have agreed a framework to govern under a confidence and supply agreement with party leaders Pedro Sánchez and Inés Arrimadas formally signing off the plan for a coalition agreement. The plans came hours after initial result show that no parties would receive a majority in the Congress of Deputies (lower house of Spain's legislative branch) and both parties agreeing that the People's Party would be a disaster for the country whilst in government. It is understood that Pedro Sánchez will become Prime Minister after the King invited him to form a government in which he has accepted.

 

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Defence Minister Margarita Robles announces creation of Military Emergencies Unit
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Minister of Defence Margarita Robles has publically approved plans for the creation of the 'Military Emergencies Unit' which is to become a separate branch of the Spanish Armed Forces. The unit has been created to be the mechanism of first resort within the Spanish Armed Forces to fall back on when taking action to see to the safety and wellbeing of the country's citizens who are in grave danger and to respond to national disasters and calamities and other public needs. It is being designed for flexible, rapid response, with specialised personnel and equipment to each hazard that has been identified. Still, cooperation with the rest of the Armed Forces is essential in operations which are protracted in time or require outside resources. During a briefing in Madrid, Minister of Defence Margarita Robles told reporters:

"The creation of the Military Emergencies Unit will allow Spain to become a pioneer nation with the creation of a specialized branch within the Armed Forces and therefore able to gain better use of the capabilities when a catastrophe occurs. The dedicated unit will be able to provide disaster relief throughout Spain and will have the ability to provide disaster relief abroad in emergencies that have their origin in natural hazards among these are floods, spill-overs, earthquakes, landslides, large snow storms and other adverse weather conditions as well as any other emergency deemed appropriate by the Prime Minister of Spain."​

 

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Pedro Sánchez to reshuffle cabinet ahead of local elections ​

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced three changes to his cabinet this morning with the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Health announcing they are leaving the cabinet with the intention of standing in local elections after support was given by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has announced that Susana Díaz will be promoted from Minister of Justice to Deputy Prime Minister after being urged by party members to promote her after gaining a strong following within the party and having the drive to promote Spain's interests overseas. Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo will remain in her role and will retain the Minister of Territorial Policy portfolio.

The Prime Minister has also announced that Albert Rivera will enter cabinet for the first time to become the new Minister of Foreign Affairs. The lawyer-turned-politician was formerly a member of the Parliament of Catalonia before entering the national Congress of Deputies and is against Catalonia becoming independent.

José Miñones is also set to become the new Minister of Health as the pharmacist looks to make his mark in cabinet after a compelling career in the region of Galicia and promises to build a world class Spanish healthcare system with the new Minister also planning to hire more doctors and nurses for the Spanish healthcare system.

It has also been rumoured by government sources that the Prime Minister may appoint a High Commissioner for Gibraltar Affairs which would remain a role within the Prime Minister's Office.

 

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Spain announces Cuatro Torres Business Area venture ​

The Spanish Government has announced a five billion dollar investment into constructing a new business park which has been named as the Cuatro Torres Business Area next to Paseo de la Castellana in the La Paz neighborhood of Central Madrid. Minister of Development José Luis Ábalos announced the plans after securing government funding for the project which he hopes will bring investment and economic growth to Spain. In a city of many great historical monuments, the Cuatro Torres Business Area will become a bold architectural statement with Minister José Luis Ábalos stating:

"The Cuatro Torres Business Area will be a statement of intent by this government to bring jobs and economic growth to the Spanish economy, leading Spanish architects have come together with the aim of producing sustainable and innovative office buildings. The result was the Cuatro Torres Business Park, a modern landmark that defines the city skyline. We have invested five billion dollars into this development which will include thousands of offices, gyms, pools, restaurants and a new development called the Eurostars Madrid Tower Hotel which we have planned carefully as we continue to invest in tourism ventures. The hotel will become one of the most luxury 5-star hotels in the world. The hotel will own up to floor 31 (out of 52) of the new Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso and it also has a two-storey dining room with panoramic views of Madrid on the last two floors of the tower. The new Cuatro Torres Business Area is set to bring thousands of jobs to the local area."​

 

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Spanish Government announces major political agreement with Republic of Thailand​

The Deputy Prime Minister of Spain has today confirmed that her country has struck a major political agreement that will strike a new working relationship with the Republic of Thailand. It was announced that a milestone meeting held in Madrid by government ministers, executives from some of Spain's leading companies and diplomats from the Thai Embassy in Madrid held a meeting at the Plaza del Marqués de Salamanca ended in political success. The news comes days after it was announced that the Spanish Government has pushed through investment for a new business area in Madrid dubbed as the 'Cuatro Torres Business Area' which is set to bring economic growth and many needed jobs to the Spanish people. The Deputy Prime Minister was questioned at an event at the University of Malaga and spoke to the press regarding the new announcement.

"The new working relationship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Thailand is an exciting agreement that has been struck by Spanish government ministers and leading company executives from across the country alongside Thai diplomats. The Kingdom of Spain and Republic of Thailand share something in common and that is the fact that both countries are two majorly developing countries within our respective continents and have established that we can help each other develop further for the growth of our countries and to put the people of our countries at the heart of our future. The Kingdom of Spain is excited to share share our expertise in renewable energy, rail technology, technology, fashion, and culinary arts and we know that Thailand will put these at the forefront of their internal development projects which will further bring economic growth, jobs and expand their influence in the global market."​

 

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Minister of Development gives green light for high-speed rail network​

Minister of Development José Luis Ábalos has today confirmed the rumours are correct regarding a twenty-five billion dollar investment to open a high-speed rail network across Spain. The government has confirmed that it will serve fifty-six lines and will connect with the majority of the country and allow for journey times to be cut, business travellers to travel via rail instead of air. The government has also stated that the job will bring three thousand three hundred and twenty seven jobs to the network as stations are created and modernised. The rail network is set to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister and the Royal Family upon its completion.

"Today will see the biggest investment into an infrastructure project of any Spanish government as we continue to invest in our people. We have confirmed that $25,000,000,000 will be invested into a new Spanish high-speed rail network dubbed 'Alta Velocidad Española' which will become one of the most modern rail networks in the world and the most advanced rail network in Europe. The average journey time between Madrid and Barcelona is over four hours long and with the new rail network, it will now be completed in just over three hours. We have consulted with regional governments across the country and notice this will bring many advantages to the country. Jobs will be created, the economy will be boosted, we are putting the Spanish people at the heart of this government."​

 

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Spanish Prime Minister issues statement on United States of America​

With unexpected tensions rising between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the media before a meeting with the British Government at the Palace of Moncloa. He addressed the rumours surrounding Puerto Rico and the recent expulsion of a Spanish diplomat in what he called a serious escalation and has called for the expulsion to be revoked.

"Today, I have been made aware that the Ambassador of Spain to the United States of America and her family consisting of her partner and daughter have been expelled from the country over a meeting that took place at the White House over Spanish plans to regain Puerto Rico through long and detailed diplomatic talks after being accused of yelling and berating the President which I find absolutely absurd because she has also stated the same thing that happened to her. I appointed the Ambassador to represent all Spanish citizens in the United States of America and to represent our continued diplomatic efforts with President Al Gore and his government but to expel a diplomat who is representing her people whilst working with our Consulate-General in Miami is a serious escalation and I urge the President and his government to rescind their diplomatic expulsion and allow Ambassador Cristina Narbona to continue the wonderful work she is doing. Our embassy in Washington D.C. will remain open until further notice as we continue to operate as normal and offer services to our citizens and our diplomatic offices across the entire country of the United States of America will also remain open until any information is posted on official government sources."​

 

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Pedro Sánchez secures valuable lifeline upon return to office​

Pedro Sánchez’s hopes of securing a tight hold as Spain’s prime minister have received a boost after he returned to office upon a Constitutional Court hearing last week ruled in his favour after a temporary Prime Minister was appointed. After the hearing, the Spanish People's Party launched an emergency debate to stop Pedro Sánchez from returning to power which were voted against by Catalan and Basque nationalist political parties as it was decided that the exclusion of politicians and/or parties was undemocratic.

Sources close to the Palace of Moncloa said that President of the Congress of Deputies Meritxell Batet who was a key peacemaker between Spain and the United States communicated a message to the President of the United States of America about Pedro Sánchez returning to office which was met with good response from the United States Department of State but days later, she was stepping down from her role to explore other avenues and continue in her role as a lecturer at the Pompeu Fabra University teaching Constitutional Law but ruled out resigning from office as a Member of the Congress of Deputies for Barcelona.

 

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Pedro Sánchez meets with separatist parties ahead of key parliamentary vote​

Ahead of a key parliamentary vote, Pedro Sánchez has met with key parties from Catalonia and the Basque Country ahead of a key vote in the Congress of Deputies. Previously, the Spanish People's Party launched an emergency debate to stop Pedro Sánchez from returning to power which were voted against by Catalan and Basque nationalist political parties as it was decided that the exclusion of politicians and/or parties was undemocratic. It is now down to Pedro Sánchez to support his attempts to form a government as ministers still continue to serve in a caretaker capacity.

"I am ready to work to form a progressive coalition government between the Socialist Party alongside the left-wing Sumar coalition with sufficient parliamentary support from Catalan and Basque regional parties to guarantee the stability that the country needs. I have the experience and the knowledge to continue the great work that my government undertook in the previous government. We have an excellent plan for all of Spain."​

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The Prime Minister will more than likely be able to secure the support of Sumar and Basque regional parties, but the two Catalan pro-independence parties have made clear they want an amnesty for separatists accused over previous bids for independence. Pedro Sánchez has made substantial concessions to the independence movement in the past, such as granting pardons to nine jailed Catalan leaders and more recently reforming the criminal code to remove the crime of sedition. Those moves drew a severe backlash from the opposition, but ultimately did not appear to harm him substantially in any polls. However, an amnesty is seen as a much bigger step and the last such law was approved in 1977, as part of Spain's transition to democracy. Already several veteran figures in Pedro Sánchez's own party have spoken out against the proposal, deeming it unconstitutional and a threat to Spain's territorial unity and figures from across the Spanish political spectrum had deemed an amnesty unconstitutional.

 

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Spanish Foreign Minister issues comments regarding the Vatican City​

The Government of Spain has expressed deep concerns over the ongoing series of unexplained reported explosions that have occurred within the Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world. Spanish officials are closely monitoring the situation and have appealed for urgent investigation and necessary security precautions to prevent any further incidents in the holy city.

The Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican City has communicated that her and her team remain ready to provide support and the Spanish Armed Forces remain ready and have offered their full support and cooperation in resolving the puzzling occurrences. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has underscored the importance of taking immediate action to ensure the safety and security of the Vatican City. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Manuel Albares commented on the situation, acknowledging the gravity of the issue.

"We are deeply concerned about the reported series of explosions within Vatican City. The Vatican holds immense religious and historical value for millions of people around the world. Our thoughts are with the Holy See and all those affected by these distressing incidents. The Kingdom of Spain, in collaboration with other nations, stands ready to provide any assistance requested by the Vatican City to address the ongoing situation effectively. It is imperative to protect the Vatican's spiritual and historical significance against any further harm and maintain its status as a symbol of peace and unity for Catholics and people of all denominations worldwide."​

 

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Spanish Deputy Prime Minister issues statement on closure of Sparrow Industries​

In a shocking turn of events, Sparrow Industries, a global leader in defense and financial services, announced its imminent closure, leaving governments and financial experts concerned about the potential global impact. The company's decision has sent shockwaves throughout the defense and financial sectors, raising questions about the stability of the global economy. The sudden announcement of the closure will certainly have raised eyebrows within government circles and financial institutions alike. The company's vast global presence has led to concerns over thousands of potential job losses and economic repercussions. Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz spoke to the media at an event in in Madrid.

"The Spanish Government is deeply shocked to hear of the closure of Sparrow Industries, one of the world's largest providers of defense and financial services. We are profoundly concerned about the global impact that this unfortunate event could have on various sectors. Sparrow Industries has been a major player in the international arena, contributing to both defense and financial industries worldwide. Their innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies have not only boosted the Spanish economy but also provided substantial advancements in global security. The closure of such a significant entity undoubtedly poses challenges for many sectors, including defense, finance, and employment.​

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We understand the potential ramifications that this closure may have on various countries' defense capabilities, financial stability, and overall economic development. Given Sparrow Industries' wide-ranging influence and strategic partnerships, the Spanish Government remains committed to engaging with affected nations in order to collectively address the resulting challenges. The Spanish Government will continue to closely monitor the situation, explore avenues for cooperation, and provide necessary support to affected countries. Together, we will navigate through these challenging times continuing to monitor security on a global scale."​

 

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Spanish Foreign Minister issues statement on Germany and France tensions
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With recent tensions between France and Germany resulting in the sanctioning of German officials and civilians, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs has came out and called for peace across the region. He also confirmed that he would be making contact with both German and French governments respectively. It was also confirmed that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had been informed of current developments whilst he attends the Iberian Summit in Portugal. Whilst speaking to reporters, the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condeming the sanctions and calling for talks between France and Germany.

"The Kingdom of Spain condemns the recent imposition of sanctions by France on Germany. We strongly believe that such an approach further exacerbates tensions and undermines the progress of peace and stability that we tirelessly strive to achieve in a united Europe. The challenges facing Europe today require a continental approach characterized by solidarity and a deep sense of shared responsibility. It is only by nurturing an environment of peace, understanding, and compromise that we can address the root causes of discontent and work towards a harmonious and prosperous future for all. In conclusion, we reiterate our firm condemnation of the French sanctions imposed on Germany and urge both nations to move towards peaceful resolution. Let us embrace the ideals of tolerance and cooperation, ensuring that the past serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of division, but never as a barrier to a brighter, more peaceful future."​