Robles calls for parliamentary consensus for the reform of the CNI and the new official secrets law

He explains that the objective is to have "21st century" standards and asks citizens to "trust" their intelligence services

MADRID, 27 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has asked this Friday for the support of all political parties for the legislative reforms announced by the Government to increase the controls of the National Intelligence Center (CNI) and approve a new Official Secrets Law that replaces the current one, from 1969.

In an interview on Antena 3, collected by Europa Press, Robles has once again "praised" the work of the members of the CNI and has applauded the appearance in Congress of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, pointing out that the espionage body acts " always in accordance with the law.

In this sense, he has maintained that the judicial control that protects his actions is "absolutely commendable" and has also had words of recognition for the magistrates of the Supreme Court in charge of this work.

However, he recalled that society is evolving very quickly and the world is facing new threats, channeled above all through new technologies. This implies an "increasing" level of complexity that makes it necessary, as she has pointed out, "that there are 21st century laws."

But in addition, he believes that it is important that these regulations go ahead as a result of a consensus between all the political forces, because they are matters of State. "On these issues that are the essence of the State, the Government expects the greatest possible consensus," he acknowledged without disdaining the "necessary" political debate.

Robles believes that citizens must be aware that the CNI "always" acts in accordance with the law and they cannot forget that Spain and the rest of the countries face very serious threats and their security "is seriously threatened". This prevents, as he has explained, that all explanations can be given about the work of the intelligence services, but he has asked the public for "trust" in them.

"Citizens are very aware that we have many threats, risks and magnificent professionals in the intelligence services. We must trust them and trust the State," he argued.

With this, Robles has also avoided entering into controversy over the Ministry that pilots the drafting of the new Law on Official Secrets, in which the Presidency is working, and has explained that all regulations belong to the entire Government and, even more, "to the citizens".