Address given by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at his own request, to the Lower House of Parliament in a plenary session

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

Good morning Honourable Members, Madam Speaker

I trust you will allow me to address my first words to our fellow citizens in the Canary Islands, to convey to them our solidarity, and the commitment of the entire civil protection system, given the storm they have been experiencing during these past few hours.

I would also like to comment on the absurdity of seeing the world and its political representatives, among them ourselves, compelled to speak about war, about peace, and not about common challenges such as the climate emergency and its effects on the safety and security and the lives of our fellow citizens.

Honourable Members, there are dates that can never be forgotten, that are marked forever, and that are stamped on a country's collective memory.

In my opinion, 15 February 2003 was one such a date. That Saturday, more than three million people took to the streets to take part in demonstrations across Spain. Their message was loud and clear: no to the war.

I was one of those many citizens. I witnessed first-hand the pride and courage of a society-Spanish society-that refused to abandon its principles just to please a US President, that refused to back a lie whose only intent was to make the rich richer and sink the poor into greater misery.

The results of the polls taken at that time were resoundingly clear, Honourable Members. Fewer than 6% of Spaniards wanted Spain to enter the conflict and the then President of the Government, José María Aznar, was well aware this was the case.

But he did not care. He dragged us into that madness all the same, because he wanted to feel important, because he hoped the then US President, George W. Bush, would offer him a cigar and let him his feet on the table. A war to feed his ego. The dignity of an entire country for the sake of a photo opportunity.

We are all familiar with what followed because it is already a part of history: the greatest geopolitical disaster in the world since the war in Viet Nam.

Honourable Members of Congress from the Partido Popular and from VOX-who are already engaging with this address, which I appreciate-do you know how many victims the Iraq War left in its wake? Do you? Do you know what that illegal war unleashed in the Middle East and worldwide?

You do not know, because you do not want to know, and because, moreover, it is a source of shame. But I think it is important that we remember, because forgetting is the first step toward making the same mistakes.

More than 300,000 people died-more than 300,000 people-many of them children and women, and more than 5 million persons were displaced, forced to abandon their homes.

Needless to say, the entire country was left in ruins. A wave of instability swept over the entire region. That war in Iraq, of course, precipitated the war in Syria, galvanized Al-Qaeda, paved the way for the formation of Da'esh, of the ill-named Islamic State and-and, such are the paradoxes of history, Honourable Members, such are the paradoxes of history-greatly strengthened the Iranian regime of the Ayatollahs through the so-called "Shia Crescent".

In Europe, this war, the war of Aznar, among others, caused tensions among the Member States-you will remember there was a split between old Europe and new Europe over alignment with international law.

It also led to a substantial rise in fuel prices and in the price of the basket of goods. There was an unprecedented migration crisis in the Mediterranean, and jihadist attacks in Paris, London, Brussels, Barcelona and Madrid. More than 150 of our fellow Spaniards died in those attacks, Honourable Members.

That is what happened, Honourable Members from VOX and from the Partido Popular. That is what happened, Mr Feijóo. And, even so, Mr Feijóo had the temerity last week to insinuate that, were Europe to suffer a new wave of attacks now, it would be the fault of the regularization of migrants that the Government of Spain is currently carrying out. What cynicism and what lack of respect for the victims.

Because death, instability, a humanitarian crisis, lower standards of living for millions of people in Europe, in Spain, and in every corner of the planet, and military spending equivalent to 1.9 billion euros today-that was the result of the Iraq War, throughout the world and in Spain. That is the legacy left by the Azores Summit trio with their illegal war.

As the years have gone by, some of those who championed the illegal war in Iraq have shifted positions. Former President George W. Bush has asked for forgiveness for that illegal war. The then British Prime Minister has asked for forgiveness for that illegal war. And what has former President of the Government Aznar said? That he did not regret anything and never will. Such is the moral character of former President José María Aznar.

It is important to remember not to forget, if we wish to avoid past mistakes; unfortunately, history repeats itself. But this time not as farce, but as tragedy, because Aznar has been replaced by Mr Feijóo and Mr Abascal, Bush has been replaced by Donald Trump, and instead of Iraq we have Iran. And, of course, Honourable Members, Iran has twice the population of Iraq and five times its influence on the global economy. It is a country with more regular soldiers, Honourable Members, than Germany, France and Italy combined: such is the military strength of Iran. It is a country with highly sophisticated technology, as we are seeing, capable of shooting down planes from the sky, of launching ballistic missiles at a range of 4,000 km, of controlling the Strait of Hormuz despite the presence of the US fleet; in short, Iran is a military heavyweight. And it has, of course, been preparing for a war such as this for the past forty years.

What I am saying here is that we are not facing the same scenario as during the illegal Iraq War. The current situation is far, far worse, and its potential impact is much greater and broader reaching. And we would do well to remember, Honourable Members, how we have arrived at this situation.

The people who follow us in the press and on social media, will remember that on 22 June of last year, while Israel was razing Gaza to the ground, the United States was bombing the military complexes of Iran in Fordow, Isfahan and also in Natanz because, so they claimed, the Iranian regime was, and I quote, "very close" to enriching enough uranium to build nuclear warheads. And they will remember too that, on the same day of the attack, the US President gave his assurances in a televised speech that this infrastructure had been, and I quote his exact words, "completely and totally obliterated." However, several expert reports called that information into question.

The people also need to know that on another date-6 February of the current year- according to the reports of reputable international and national media outlets, US and Iranian delegations were engaged in negotiations. These negotiations were held over the course of several weeks, according to the media, first in Oman and later in Geneva. And, after many misgivings, it would seem, according to these reports, that Iran declared itself open to signing a new nuclear agreement. A substantially better agreement than that signed under former US President Obama in 2015, in which Iran agreed to destroy the bulk of its enriched uranium and to reinstate oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency, among other conditions.

The people, therefore, need to know that, according to all reports, the US Administration had that proposal in their hands and rejected it without offering any explanation. And that exactly two days later, on 28 February, they began to bomb Tehran together with the Government of Prime Minister Netanyahu, without notifying their allies, without a legal basis, and without a defined objective.

The White House affirmed, Honourable Members, that they bombed Tehran because Iran was two weeks away from having nuclear weapons, but several senior officials of US security agencies and departments have publicly declared, and I quote, "Iran has no structured program to build nuclear weapons" and that, therefore, and again I quote, "Iran posed no imminent threat" to the West.

Despite all of this the bombs fell. And they continue to fall as we speak, Honourable Members. With an intensity which, according to the figures released by the Pentagon, is double that deployed during the Iraq War. The bombs have already hit more than 3,000 strategic targets, among them military bases, government facilities and ports. But also, tragically, they have destroyed more than 40,000 homes, as well as hospitals, airports, schools and energy infrastructure, including the South Pars gasfield, that of Ras Laffan, that of Ninah, which together produced nothing more and nothing less than 20% of the world's liquefied gas. As the countries which suffered these attacks have rightly said, these refineries will take years to rebuild.

And therefore the question we should ask ourselves, Honourable Members, and that I believe most citizens are legitimately asking themselves, is what is the purpose of all this destruction. What are the outcomes of this first month of war? And I believe that the numbers speak volumes. Because there have already been almost 2,000 confirmed deaths, and probably thousands more as yet unconfirmed. And more than 4 million displaced persons in Iran and in Lebanon.

An emboldened Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose goal is to repeat in Lebanon the same destruction and the same suffering wreaked on Gaza.

A cruel and illegal response from the Iranian regime whose attacks on its neighbour countries we naturally condemn and deplore. Because one illegal act cannot and must not be met with another.

Some 12 billion euros, or dollars, to be more exact, of public money spent on military operations.

A severe drop in tourism, maritime trade and global air traffic.

A dramatic increase in the price of fossil fuels, fertilizers, helium and other commodities essential to the proper functioning of the world economy and to the food security of millions of people.

And here, in our country, a rise in diesel and gas prices of 35% and 95%, respectively. The IBEX 35, to cite just one example, has fallen by a total of 9%, meaning that the value of Spanish companies, in just one month of conflict, has fallen by more than 100 billion euros in less than one month. Almost 5 billion euros per day of conflict.

And, so, what is this all for? What have those who pushed for this illegal war achieved?

In my opinion, they have achieved the following:

First, they have succeeded in undermining international law. In destabilizing the Middle East. In rekindling conflicts in Iraq and in Lebanon. In burying Gaza under rubble-not concrete this time, but rather that of amnesia and indifference. In making the Gulf States which, until just under a month ago, were safe, unsafe. In incentivising, as we saw yesterday, the nuclear programmes of Pakistan and North Korea. Of gifting Putin more than 8 billion euros to fund his war and his invasion of Ukraine, owing to the rise in fuel prices and the lifting of sanctions, also by the US Administration. In aggravating the energy and logistical challenges faced by the people of Ukraine and its army, as we discussed President Zelensky just over ten days ago. And, in Iran, in Tehran, in replacing one Khamenei with an even worse Khamenei. Because Mojtaba is just as dictatorial a leader as his father and is even more bloodthirsty. And, unlike his father, he is in favour of Iran developing nuclear weapons.

In short: it is an unmitigated disaster. Absolutely unmitigated. That is what the proponents of this war have achieved, thus far. And it is my view that the Honourable Members of PP and VOX have contributed to this, either by supporting it or remaining silent.

Because the public must understand one thing clearly: failing to speak out in the face of an unjust and illegal war is neither prudence nor loyalty. It is an act of cowardice and complicity.

So, Honourable Members, what has the Government of Spain being doing in the meantime? Well, we have been working tirelessly in five areas, and I would like to share those with all of you.

Firstly, as you know, we did not allow the US to use the Rota and Morón bases to wage this illegal war. All the flight plans that included activities relating to operations in Iran were rejected-every single one, including those for refuelling aircraft. It was not easy. But it is my opinion we did this because we are permitted to do so by the bilateral agreement concerning the two bases and because we are a sovereign country that has no desire to participate in illegal wars.

Secondly, we launched the largest evacuation operation in the history of Spain. We have successfully evacuated 8,000 Spanish citizens who found themselves trapped in Iran and the Gulf States. We have sent humanitarian aid to several of the affected countries, including Lebanon. We have bolstered the defence of European territory in Cyprus by sending our most state-of-the-art frigate to the eastern Mediterranean.

Thirdly, as we did in the early stages of the Ukraine war, this Government has approved a Response Plan for the War in the Middle East, which establishes the largest, the most substantial social protection programme in the EU. That programme combines 5 billion euros in direct support for affected sectors with tax exemptions and bold policies to protect Spain's 20 million households and 3 million businesses from the harmful repercussions of the war. Because it is clear, Honourable Members, that each bomb that falls on the Middle East takes money out of the pockets of families in Spain-we are already seeing this happening.

Honourable Members of Congress, this Government, in the time that it has been my honour to lead it, has dealt with unprecedented crises, from which I believe Spanish society has emerged stronger than before. I have said it many times to you and to the public: we do not choose crises, but we can choose our solutions and answers to these crises. And we do so through more protection, not less. Indeed, the economic data demonstrate the success of our economic policy that combines protection with transformation. This is particularly clear in the energy sector, where our commitment to homegrown energy is making us more resilient to energy crises that originate from abroad.

Honourable Members, in the pandemic, our response combined furlough schemes with use of European Funds-a stark contrast with the cuts, sweeping tax hikes for the middle and working classes and bank bailouts that the Right implemented when it was in government during the financial crisis.

In response to the Ukraine war we implemented the Iberian solution; we mobilized an unprecedented volume of resources-a total of 25 billion euros-as a result of which Spain was one of the first countries in Europe to see its inflation rate return to levels of 2%; our economic growth is significantly above the European average, and job creation in Spain in 2025 was triple that of the world's largest economy-the United States itself.

We have answered the United States' trade war against Europe and the entire world with guarantees and aid amounting to 15 billion euros, opening up new markets for Spanish companies.

So, Honourable Members, I repeat: we do not choose crises, but we can choose our answer to them. By protecting people. Leaving no one behind. That is the rationale behind our Response Plan for the Iran War, which I hope you Honourable Members will pass tomorrow.

Why am I saying all of this? I am saying this because it is also important that the public know-I mentioned the Iraq War before-how important it is to have Governments that are committed to ordinary people.

I am saying this because during the Iraq War the then Government led by President Aznar did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Mr Montoro, who was the Minister for Finance at the time, approved no tax cuts, no reforms and no aid. It seems he was too busy lining his pockets and peddling access to the Official Gazette to be concerned about the public.

Even so, today we will hear a succession of tax cut proposals from the Opposition. In short, lecturing us. That is barefaced impudence. Impudence.

You might not have, but we have stepped up.

In fact, not only have we put together the largest social protection programme in the EU, we have also put a number of measures in place to further increase the pace of our energy transition. That has been the fourth pillar of our work. Because if there is one thing that has been proven by this crisis or the crises caused by the wars in Ukraine, in Iran, it is that the smaller our dependence on gas and oil, the greater our autonomy and our resilience, as a country, to energy shocks such as this.

Fifthly and lastly, the Government has also engaged in an intense diplomatic effort to end this war. We were the first to speak out in the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The first. We have spoken to the leaders of around thirty different strategic countries. We have mobilized the entire European Union.

And we have done that based on our firm conviction that international law, multilateralism and diplomacy are the best means of ending the war and building peace.

Members of Congress-I would like to take a moment to speak to the people watching this address. Because the question they will be asking themselves is: what will happen next?

In all honesty, nobody knows. That is the worst of it, that there is only one person who knows. Diplomatic and financial pressure might succeed and bring the hostilities to an end, that is a possibility. Or events might escalate. The Strait of Hormuz might remain closed. We might see deployment of troops, as we did today, and battles on the ground. The war might last days, months or years.

This disaster might be over soon. Or the nightmare of Iraq might be repeated, but a thousand times worse. And in that case, the entire world, including of course Europe and Spain, might suffer worse economic repercussions, a greater humanitarian catastrophe and more significant security crisis than we did in 2003 during the Iraq War.

Obviously, what I can say to the public and to you, Honourable Members, is that the Government of Spain will strive to ensure that does not happen.

But I repeat: nobody knows. We can, however, be sure of something else. This conflict will not bring higher salaries, more affordable housing or better public services.

That is the true tragedy. A true tragedy. Because the very last thing the world needed was yet another war. And not only that but an illegal, senseless, cruel war that is slowing our progress towards economic, social and environmental goals. A war that is turning our attention away from the priorities of ordinary people, and for one reason only: the interests of a few. The same few as always-those at the top.

That is why from day one, the position of our progressive coalition Government has been clear. And I can tell you here and now that unlike others, we will not change it.

We say no to unilateral breaches of international law. We say no to repeating the mistakes of the past. We say no to dressing up greed and political scheming as democracy. We say no to war.

The same no that we, as young people-millions and millions of us-chanted alongside our parents and grandparents 23 years ago. The same no that we said just hours after the first bombs fell on Iran. And that led ultimately to the conflict spreading to other areas of the Middle East.

Because, Honourable Members, the international rules-based order is not something that one can invoke or violate as one sees fit. Because coherence-consistency-is central to international law. Being coherent and consistent in defending the international order and international law is the most important thing of all-more important than the offices of the United Nations and the submarines of NATO.

What we cannot do is condemn the invasion of Ukraine-like most of the Spanish public, this Government of Spain and most parliamentary groups-while also applauding the attacks on Iran. We cannot demand that the territorial integrity of Greenland be respected, but fall silent when territorial integrity is trampled on in Gaza or Lebanon.

I would ask the Honourable Members of the Partido Popular and VOX to keep what I am about to say in mind, because I believe most of the public, whoever they vote for, agree: double standards do not make the world fairer, they make it less safe.

It is true patriotism to oppose an illegal war which is not in the interests of the people of Spain or of Europe. Thankfully, Spain is now a standard-bearer for peace and international law around the world. And in a world that has lost its certainty and empathy, I must say it is a source of pride to be Spanish.

We have set out along a path which I am convinced is the only one possible. Let us continue along it. It is the only path that most of the people of Spain want to take. The path of the law and peace. With humility, but also determination and conviction.

We will demand an end to this war. Because it is unjust for some to set the world ablaze and leave the rest of us with the ashes. It is unjust for the people of Spain and the rest of Europe to have to pay the price of this illegal war from their own pockets. It is unjust for countries with fewer resources than the West-Africa, Latin America-to suffer the awful repercussions of this senselessness. It is unjust for a few to line their pockets while most people have to abandon their dreams or struggle to make ends meet.

Because it is unjust, we will not tolerate it. Some may say that is naive. I say it is naive to think that the way to defend international justice is to allow it to be trampled on. I say it is naive to think that the major powers will respect the rules if the middle powers stand by and do nothing.

Honourable Members, Spain is no longer a country that stays silent and takes a back seat while other powers make demands and hold sway over the world. Now we have a place at the table and a vote, and that is important. We will use that to defend Spain's collective interests and for the good of all of humankind.

A lot has been said over the past 25 years about what it means to be an ally of another country, about what it means to be a friend of another country. It is my view that being an ally or friend of another country does not mean being blindly obedient and servile. To be an ally or friend of another country is to be faithful to shared principles. Or supposedly shared principles. It means having the courage to stand firm when the wrong course is being taken. It means telling your friend, your partner, the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. And that truth is, Honourable Members of Congress, that this war is a colossal mistake, and one whose price-in humanitarian, moral, economic and security terms-we are not prepared to pay.

I will finish by saying to the people of Spain that your country will not be complicit in illegal aggression or in lies dressed up as freedom. Not this time. Not while I am President of the Government of Spain.

That is all. Thank you very much.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)

Original speech in Spanish

Non official translation