“Discouraging smoking and drinking is a left ideal.”
3rd September 2005, in a meeting of the PSOE federal committee whilst tabling a motion to increase tax on alcohol and cigarettes to finance health spending. <br class="br">As President, 2005 <br class="br">Fuente: Psoe.es http://www.psoe.es/ambito/saladeprensa/docs/index.do?action=View&id=58918 (Spanish)
Meeting on the 14th August 2007 in Jerez, predicting another PSOE victory in the 2008 elections. <br class="br">Source: ABC http://www.abc.es/20070815/nacional-politica/zapatero-advierte-sera-firme_200708150245.html <br class="br">As President, 2007
“In my opinion, patriotism is liberty.”
6th October 2005, during a discussion on Catalan and Spanish nationalism and the inclusion of the term nation-state in the Statute of Catalonia. <br class="br">As President, 2005 <br class="br">Fuente: Libertad Digital: Zapatero, la patria-libertad, el españolismo y la "fórmula" para la nación catalana http://www.libertaddigital.com/index.php?action=desanoti&cpn=1276262390 (Spanish)
Speech in the French National Assembly. March, 2005
As President, 2005
"The transition to democracy was based on a base of harmony and little remembrance." (It was good that the Transition) "[...] was like that, because at the time the wounds were still open. That problem affected an entire generation of Spaniards. However, the generation that I come from is drawn to politics in a context of democracy and liberty, and now it's only fair that the sacrifices that many people made are recognised and that people know exactly what happened to their relatives, because it's their right [...] this right doesn't involve looking back with a grudge, but completely the opposite: it means looking back with serenity, to find out the truth [...] it means building a stronger country, a country that can look at all of its citizens with absolute serenity, so that they feel recognised in our project of contemporary democracy".
Interview in 2005 in the book "Zapatero and the Citizens' World" by Calamai and Garzia.
As President, 2005
"Ségolène represents personal energy, good spirits and optimism, the determination to preside, the vocation to get things done instead of talking about it; as we have done in Spain." <br class="br">"Today, the grandeur of a country is measured by the extent to which it defends and extends its citizens' rights through its impulse towards total equality, by its capacity to create energy that contributes towards cultural, social and economic growth. That is how a country becomes strong, by making its citizens more powerful." <br class="br">In a meeting of the French Socialist Party in Toulouse at the end of the electoral campaign for the first round of presidential voting, to help Ségolène Royal, 19th April 2007. <br class="br">As President, 2007 <br class="br">Fuente: La Rioja http://www.larioja.com/prensa/20070420/mundo/zapatero-apoya-segolene-ofrece_20070420.html (Spanish).
11th Sept. 2007, during a speech by the PSOE in the Congress of Deputies. <br class="br">As President, 2007 <br class="br">Fuente: Zapatero: "El Gobierno ha situado a España en la Champions League de las economías del mundo" Cadena SER http://www.cadenaser.com/espana/articulo/zapatero-gobierno-ha-situado-espana/csrcsrpor/20070911csrcsrnac_5/Tes.
Dinner speech at which Zapatero was the guest of honour, hosted by Felipe Calderón in the National Palace, Mexico City. <br class="br">As President, 2007 <br class="br">Fuente: Transcripción oficial en la web de la Presidencia de México http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/prensa/discursos/?contenido=31030
Meeting in the Vistalegre Palace, Madrid, 23rd April 2007. <br class="br">As President, 2007 <br class="br">Fuente: Nota de prensa Zapatero: "Responderemos a cada insulto con una propuesta, a cada descalificación con una idea" en la web oficial del PSOE http://www.psoe.es/ambito/alcaladehenares/news/index.do?action=View&id=133350, Ya: Zapatero al PSOE: "A cada insulto, una propuesta, a cada descalificación, una idea y a cada exageración una sonrisa" http://noticias.ya.com/espana/22/04/2007/zapatero-psoe-mitin.html
“I'm going to give you a peaceful Basque Country”
To Eduardo Madina, after an ETA assasination attempt
As Opposition Leader
Said to the presenter of 'Cuatro', Iñaki Gabilondo, at the end of an interview, and referring to the 2008 general election. His words were captured by microphones when Zapatero presumed that he was no longer on air. <br class="br">As President, 2008 <br class="br">Fuente: "A partir de este fin de semana, voy a dramatizar un poco" http://www.publico.es/048875/a/partir/semana/dramatizar/poco:
“I am highly at ease and calm because we have a fairly republican king.”
"For me, a republican is someone who defends public institutions and democratic values, someone who is a defender of public life, someone who repsects the principles of liberty, so in that sense we are very calm and at ease." <br class="br">14th April 2005, during a commemoration to the Second Republic. <br class="br">Sources: ABC: Rajoy critica el «alarde intelectual» de Zapatero de llamar republicano al Rey http://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-15-04-2005/abc/Nacional/rajoy-critica-el-alarde-intelectual-de-zapatero-de-llamar-republicano-al-rey_201845247092.html (Spanish), <br class="br">As President, 2005
“I don't want to be a great leader. I would rather be a good democrat.”
Interview with "Time" Magazine, September 19th, 2004 <br class="br">Font: Time: "I Don't Want To Be A Great Leader" http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901040927-699350,00.html http://es.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Jos%C3%A9_Luis_Rodr%C3%ADguez_Zapatero&action=edit&section=3 <br class="br">As President, 2004
April 2005, regarding Juan José Ibarretxe's plan to propose a referendum regarding whether to approve his plan to reform the aunomomy of the Basque Country.
As President, 2005
Fuente: El Correo, Saturday 9th April 2005, p. 23
Closing remark to the Presidential debate with Mariano Rajoy in the 2008 election campaign.
As President, 2008