Spain's Sanchez Unveils New Cabinet's Social, Economic Priorities At Davos Summit

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered his special address to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, outlining his new coalition government's focus on social equality, sustainable economic growth and deficit reduction

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2020) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered his special address to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, outlining his new coalition government's focus on social equality, sustainable economic growth and deficit reduction.

The Spanish prime minister started his speech with his government's program, which includes five transformation goals.

First of all, it implies economic growth that creates "decent jobs." Economic growth "at any cost" or the one that widens social divide is not acceptable, the prime minister said, adding that the economy needed to grow and distribute wealth more justly.

The next two transformations are digital transformation, including creating new vocational training places, and ecological transition, such as greenhouse gas emissions goals.

The fourth transformation is equality between men and women. The prime minister put special emphasis on a gender balance in his new government, noting that three of his four vice presidents are women. Equal pay, equal paternity and maternity leave and the more equal sharing of family care responsibilities were named among key priorities.

Finally, social justice in its broader sense, including tax justice, was defined by Sanchez as the fifth transformation goal.

All these goals, the prime minister added, will be combined with Spain's commitments to reduce deficit and public debt.

As for foreign policy, Sanchez said that it was looking forward to collaborating with the British government and hoped for a "very positive agreement," beneficial for both the EU and the post-Brexit UK.

When asked by a moderator about a string of crises that Latin America saw in 2019, the Spanish prime minister said that regional integration processes could greatly improve the situation and help the countries solve regional problems, such as migration.

He added that Madrid was looking to ratifying a EU trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur. The Spanish leader also expressed hope that the new European Commission would boost cooperation with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (SELAC) and put more focus on the issue during an Ibero-American summit in Andorra.