National
Zapatero appears on national television programme 59 segundos
By h.b.
Apr 29, 2008 - 8:16 AM

Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, took part in a live interview on the TVE television programme, ‘59 segundos’ last night. Zapatero failed to clarify if a ransom had been paid for the release of the Spanish fishermen in the ‘Playa de Bakio’ case, and admitted that the Spanish justice system is not working ‘as the Spanish people deserve’. He said a great effort was needed before improvement would be seen in the judiciary.

The Prime Minister also said he continued to oppose the regional referendum being prepared by the lehendakari, Juan José Ibarretxe, in the Basque Country, and that the way forward in the region was through ‘dialogue, understanding and joint work’ and that no ‘adventures’, as he called it would take place.

Zapatero was also asked about the economic slowdown and said ‘We come from some years of very high growth, and we will continue to create employment but unemployment will also increase, but even so we will still have the lowest rate in democracy’, he said. He claimed that prices would start to fall ‘bit by bit’ and rejected claims that the cabinet had at any time tried to mislead the public, or was unprepared to face the economic situation. He said he expected the recovery to start in the second half of 2009.