Q. Recently, the IMF published some dire forecasts regarding the Spanish economy. Do you share this pessimism? Do you foresee recovery taking longer than expected? What do you think is a reasonable baseline for a return to normalcy? A. It’s true that while the IMF has improved its projections for other similar countries, Spain has not enjoyed such a shift. It’s also true that the IMF forecasts are more pessimistic than CEOE’s. That said, I believe that in a time of such pervasive uncertainty, such forecasts are prone to sudden changes. In my opinion, our focus should be on continually moving. How? Regarding our own methodology, we agree with the IMF and the Bank of Spain. We must continue stimulus efforts for as long as is necessary to support productivity and allow for household consumption. It’s imperative we continue shoring up the economy. Behind the scenes, it’s essential we make good use of the European funds I mentioned earlier. We’re looking at up to 140 billion euros with the purpose of fixing the economy. And when I say fix, I don’t just mean bringing it back to life, but also formulate a more industrial, more digital, and more sustainable organizational model. Such a model will improve productivity and enable us to create more and better jobs. This is an opportunity to rise from the ashes stronger than ever before. CEOE continues to work tirelessly with the Office for Technical Support for European Projects, aiming to secure funding for companies pursuing projects which will further these goals. Q. In your latest public appearances, you’ve seemed somewhat concerned about today’s political situation, and more specifically, about the radical tendencies seen in certain leaders. Should new leaders err on the side of restraint? A. Absolutely. I believe society currently suffers from an excess of noise. The public wants us to lead with a firm hand, eyes fixed on the horizon while we all to work shoulder to shoulder. This means leaving aside extremes, making efforts to ease tensions, exercising restraint, and building, building, building. Anyone who wants to be part of the solution must take part, from the political class to business leaders to common community members. There’s too much at stake to continue these divisive disputes. 40 MAGAZINE