MADRID – Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero hit back Tuesday at remarks made by the former premier Jose Maria Aznar about the new Socialist government.

Aznar claimed Zapatero’s support for the reform of the new EU Constitution had reduced Spain’s power in Europe and taken it from the “table of the adults to the kids table”.

He also said reforming the constitution would be the “biggest mistake imaginable”.
 
Aznar also attacked the “lack of conviction” of the new Socialist administration.

But Zapatero picked out the apparent differences of opinion on the constitution within Aznar’s conservative Popular Party (PP).

The leader of the opposition and present head of the PP, Mariano Rajoy, said he would give Zapatero conditional support on the question of the new constitution.

The prime minister asked for “consensus” within the PP on this question, attacking the apparent divisions.

“With respect to any position, it would be good if the PP would have real clarity on important themes like the European Constitution as well as the reform of the Spanish Constitution,” Zapatero said.

“I hope that we can see this.”

Zapatero made the comments at a press conference Tuesday at the Moncloa Palace, the seat of government, with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, who is on a State visit to Spain.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news