MADRID, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the European Union (EU) and several European nations on Friday expressed confidence in Spain's new government.
European Commission (EC) President Jean-Claude Juncker was one of the first to congratulate Spain's new prime minister Pedro Sanchez who took over the government after conservative Mariano Rajoy was ousted due to a motion of non-confidence passed in the Congress of Deputies.
"I trust that the Spanish government will continue contributing in a constructive way for a Europe that is stronger, more united and fairer, which is a challenge we face together", he said, adding that he is fully confident in Spain's commitment to the European project.
President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani also congratulated the new prime minister and invited him to appear before the Plenary Session of the European Parliament to discuss the future of the European Union (EU).
"I invite him to the plenary session, in Strasbourg, to present and debate with the MEPs the ideas of his government on the future of the EU," Tajani tweeted.
German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said Germany hoped to maintain the "close bilateral collaboration" and "friendship" with Spain, Spanish public TV said.
"It is clear that we hope for a stable government in Madrid because it is a very close and very important partner," said the spokesman.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa praised the "friendship" Sanchez offered him and announced that he hopes that after that change the two sides continue to deepen "in the path we have been developing and with the important projects that we have in progress, either from a bilateral point of view or within the scope of the European Union."
Costa also stressed that Rajoy was "a very important partner."
On social network, leader of the French Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, wrote: "Bravo, Pedro Sanchez, new prime minister of the Spanish government! My best wishes for success in this great challenge you assume. For Spain, for Europe and for the left!"
