Only political factors can derail Spanish economic recovery: PM

MADRID, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday said only "political" factors could put the brakes on the country's economic recovery.

The year 2017 ended with 3,412,781 people out of work, the lowest figure since 2008 after 290,193 people found jobs during the course of the year, new official data showed.

Speaking to the press from his home region of Galicia, Rajoy said he was pleased with the news and predicted growth of around 3 percent in the Spanish economy for 2018 and 20 million people in employment by the end of 2019.

However, he added that these aims would only happen if "everyone makes the effort that they need to do".

The PM stressed the "only bit of uncertainty that we have at the moment for the Spanish economy and for the creation of employment is purely political."

He made reference to Catalonia, where pro-independence parties on Dec. 21 again won enough seats for a majority in the regional assembly.

"If things are done with common sense in sensitivity in Catalonia, Spain could see growth of over 3 percent for another year and create over half a million jobs," he said. Enditem