An image captured by Antena 3 cameras perfectly symbolizes the political vaudeville that Spaniards were forced to witness yesterday. It was the image of the socialist deputy Patricia Blanquer imploring ERC separatists, hands in prayer position, to vote in favor of the government “tax”.
Even their pleas did not help the Finance Commission to approve the taxes on banks, energy companies and diesel which accompanied the transposition of the European directive which imposes a minimum rate of 15% on multinationals, and whose delay ( the measure should have been approved a year ago) This is the reason why Spain was denounced before European justice by the Commission.
The “no” to the diesel increase and the conversion of temporary taxes on banks and energy companies into permanent taxes were the three main measures of a package of 46 tax increases that would allow the government to meet the conditions set by Brussels for the disbursement of a European aid plan of 7.2 billion euros. The government will now have to negotiate this aid almost from scratch.
The Commission approved some minor measures, such as increasing VAT on tobacco and tourism, and increasing personal income tax by two points, from 28% to 30%, for savings income above 300,000 euros.
Subsequently, and after the suspension until 11 p.m. of a chaotic session like few others have seen in Congress, the PSOE reached an agreement. to the extreme with ERC, EH Bildu and BNG to extend the tax on energy companies by one year and for an increase in taxes on banks in exchange for the commitment to “direct all revenues” to communities, as well as organize this increase in the Basque Country and Navarre.
This increase would be done by decree-law and not as an amendment “annexed” to the transposition of the European directive.
It remains to be seen whether this decree will be approved in Congress by the PNV and the Junts, who will most likely demand in exchange for their “yes” concessions deemed onerous or greater than the revenue that the new taxes would generate. And among these concessions, that of tax exemption for strategic Basque companiesin the case of the PNV, and more economical concessions, in the case of those of Carles Puigdemont.
What is obvious is that the chaos experienced yesterday in Congress is further proof that the “progressive majority” touted by Pedro Sánchez, photographed yesterday during a routine G20, while his deputies were pleading at the Finance Commission , only exists in Moncloa propaganda.
If the president trusted the IEC’s predictions, he would undoubtedly call early general elections. Especially given the low loyalty of its partners. If these five points of advantage on the PP that the CIS predicts Tezanos They are real, what Sánchez is waiting for to call the Spaniards to the polls and improve his good results of 2023, when he came second against Alberto Nuñez Feijóo?
For too many years, the only good political news for Spaniards has been that resulting from the parliamentary defeats of the president of the government.
So what is Sánchez waiting for to ask citizens, but especially PSOE voters, if they agree with what is happening today in Spain?
