INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER
It is no surprise to anyone in Spain at the moment that Jean-Claude Juncker's new cabinet is willing to achieve the association of the word «effectivity» with them. On a interview to ITV News, the newly elected Spanish President has outlined some of his compromises for the next three years and unfolded what his first 100 days in power could look like:
J: President Juncker, a very good evening. Thank you for attending this interview live from Londres.
JCJ: Good evening and thank you for your invitation, it is a huge pleasure to be here today.
J: Firstly, and as a television based in the pre-autonomous community of Londres, I would like to ask you about our Statute of Autonomy. Will Londres have one of these in the forseeable future?
JCJ: That is a nice question on which I am unable to give you exact answers. Currently, the Spanish Government and the recently elected English President are discussing these matters, as we believe it is important to make important advances on the integration of the non-core Spanish autonomies into our constitutional order. There is significant delay and, of course, Londres is not the only region asking for faster progress; but we expect to have the Chart ready for the end of the year, and a referendum would follow suit.
J: However, it is one of the most important regions that is requesting the Statute. Could this mean that efforts would be focused in London and other relevant regions?
JCJ: Absolutely not. During my inauguration session, in which MPs needed to decide whether if they wanted me as President or not, I promised not to give preference to a region over the others. I am German, I was the Chancellor of Germanium, but that does not mean I will give preference to Germanium. Everyone will have the same attention, from Londres to the Spanish Micronesia.
J: Mr. Juncker, I want to discuss foreign affairs. It is widely known that our nation has some tense relationships like the ones with Yosai, the United Duchies or Reitzmag. Is anything going to change concerning these? Some members of the Partido Socialista accused the former Government of "reckless ignorance" towards UD, for example. Is this true?
JCJ: I do not think we should speak of changes when you have mentioned two out of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the European Union, and I should say that Reitzmag is not one of them. Spain has a nice relationship with Reitzmag, there was a summit in my home town and there should be another soon if they are willing to, which I have no doubts about. But at the moment, we have nothing to talk about with Yosai or the United Duchies. The first believes we are pirates, and the latter imposed tariffs on our products not so long ago, tariffs that have, of course, been introduced on their products at a 15%, in return from their 10% tariffs on us and the 50% tariff on Inimicus and North Diessen, two of our allies. There is no "reckless ignorance", that is completely false; there is however no need to talk to, and let me insist on this, two out of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
J: Who are the other Two Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Mr. Juncker? And what about other European nations? Don't you think that these words differ from the ones that you used to say when you had a European position?
JCJ: You do not want to know. (Juncker laughs) Before I speak about other European nations, let me do a slight remark: when I had a European position I had to be completely neutral, and I always were. Now I am in a different position, and therefore I am entitled to my views but also to the views of the nation, and the Spanish Government policy was clear: «we have nothing to speak about with them». Period. About other European nations, they are welcome to visit Madrid whenever they want, we have lots of things to speak with them and I hope that we can arrange summits with them as soon as possible.
J: Going back to Home Affairs, many are speaking about what your first hundred days in the Government will be like. Could you give us some hints or unfold some proposals?
JCJ: I can guarantee they are going to be effective, as Spaniards might already be seeing. Next week we will be introducing some amendments to our green plan; and during these 100 days we want to pass the Spanish budget, improve our economy, increase the number of active police officers, pass new plans for the nation's biggest airports and, of course, pass some reforms that are needed and that were on the programme of the Partido Popular.
J: We have nearly ran out of time, Mr. Juncker, but there is still time for one more question, and this is about Catalonia, the Basque Country and Scotland. Will nationalists be a risk to your Government stability?
JCJ: Absolutely not. I am lucky to have an absolute majority on both chambers thanks to my dear friend former President Aguilar and they will not condition the legislative activity of this cabinet. Scotland still needs a Statute of Autonomy that we are negotiating and that will be ambitious; and the Basque Country and Catalonia are invited to raise up their concerns to me whenever they want to. Obviously, we are looking for some improvements to their autonomy, but without any discrimination to other regions.
J: Mr. Juncker, thank you very much for this interview.
JCJ: Thank you.