HUESCA – Mariano Rajoy, priministerial candidate for the ruling conservative Popular Party, said  Wednesday he wanted to “do more and do better” than
current prime minister Jose Maria Aznar.

Rajoy, who became the PP candidate after Aznar decided not to stand again for Spain’s top office, told supporters if he won the 14 March general election his only aspiration would be “to do a little more and a little better than Aznar”.

The move will be seen by commentators as a conscious effort to distinguish his style from that of Aznar, who is seen as too abrasive in some quarters.

Rajoy said he would concentrate on the economy and the fight against terrorism, two basic policies of the PP during the past eight years in power.

“I don’t want to do anything especially different from the achievements under Aznar, but I only want to do a little more and little better than Aznar,” he told voters.

Meanwhile, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, leader of the main socialist oppostition PSOE party, promised to reserve five percent of state jobs for disabled people.

He also promised to create a state secretary with responsibility for the disabled.

Helping the disabled has been a theme of the socialist campaign.

Speaking to various disabled groups in Madrid, Zapatero urged them to claim their rights, whichever party they voted for on polling day.

The day after going to the polls, he said, they should “demand, claim their rights and have citizenship”.

Both political leaders brought forward the times of their meetings Wednesday because of the European Champions Cup football match between Real Madrid and
Bayern Munich at 8.30pm, which is expected to attract a huge television audience.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

                                     Subject: Spanish news