Acting Spanish PM promises tax cuts if he wins general election

Acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Saturday promised to lower taxes, especially income tax, should his right-wing People's Party (PP) win the forthcoming general election in Spain.

Speaking at a PP event in Barcelona, Rajoy promised to abolish income tax for those who continue working over the age of 65, for self-employed people looking to consolidate their own businesses and for the first year of work for those who have just started their first job.

"This makes us different from the other parties who say they are going to raise taxes," said Rajoy.

Spain ended 2015 with a public deficit of 5.1 percent of gross domestic product, well above the European Union (EU) imposed target of 4.2 percent and only at the start of May narrowly escaped a EU fine for failing to meet deficit targets.

"We had to raise taxes at the start of our legislature (in November 2011) to avoid bankruptcy and the need for a bailout, but as normality is returning we can take decisions that we like," added Rajoy, who insisted that his aim was to continue lowering unemployment.

The latest employment figures published on Thursday showed the number of people out of work fell to below 4 million for the first time since Rajoy came to power. The acting prime minister said his party's main aim was "employment and to return the future to those who have seen it at risk."

He aims to see the creation of 2 million new jobs over the next four years, explaining higher numbers of people in work would give Spain more income, "leave the accounts healthier and give more resources for health and education."

The acting prime minister also promised proposals such as the average working day ending at 6 p.m. and plans to help large families and the parents of handicapped children. Endit