Resolution on the “Assassination of the President of the Spanish Popular Party of Aragon”

The Party of European Socialists, meeting in Berlin, expresses its deepest condemnation of the brutal assassination by the terrorist group ETA yesterday, of Sr. Manuel Jiménez Abad, the President of the Spanish Popular Party of Aragon. At the same time, the PES wishes to offer its solidarity and support to the Spanish people. Together we must aim to bring about the end of all forms of violence, which threaten the freedom of expression and of political conscience for all citizens.

The PES asserts that the history of modern Europe, including Spain, demonstrates forcibly that violence can be no substitute for democracy in the resolution of political conflict. Indeed, the more complex the conflict, the greater is the need for democracy to prevail over violence, if the solutions are to be long lasting.