Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, has stressed today that the Executive's commitment to the public pension system is "total and irrevocable" after acknowledging that she has a private pension plan, adding that it "is a legitimate option."

Speaking to Radio Nacional de España (RNE), Fernandez de la Vega responded "yes" when asked if, like the Employment Minister Celestino Corbacho, she also had a private pension plan.

The vice president has played down the debate which kicked off yesterday as a result of Corbacho's admission and, reminding listeners that the minister was responding to "a very specific question," underlined the Executive's commitment to "strengthen" and "guarantee" the state pension system.

She made reference to the government's communication errors and added that she never avoids "self-criticism and responsibility" and that "of course, things can be improved."

In conclusion, the Vice President pointed out that every member of the government felt that they had the "support" of the president, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, "who supports and directs his team very well "and that his "only concern and preoccupation" is to come through the recession the "as well as possible".