The Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul MEP, has congratulated the leader of the Partido Popular (PP) of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, after the Party's remarkable victory in the legislative elections.

"This is the victory that Spain needs to become a country at the vanguard of the European Union once again. I am convinced that the leadership of Mariano Rajoy will be strong and will lead the Spanish society to the path of economic growth, making the necessary and urgent measures to recover the confidence of the financial markets", he said.

As Mariano Rajoy stated yesterday evening after the results, Joseph Daul said: "Spain is at a crossroads. Mariano Rajoy can count on the support of the EPP Group in the European Parliament to achieve the major task that the new Government will face, starting by tackling unemployment and fiscal consolidation."

The PP won the elections with more than 44% of the votes, its best result ever, and will take 186 seats of the 350 of the Spanish Parliament.

For further information:

Joseph DAUL MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, Tel: +32-2-2847525

Antoine Ripoll, Chairman's Spokesman, Tel: +32-475-856290

Pedro López de Pablo, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-475-493352

Notes to Editors:

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 264 Members.