The tax reform is still pending a few hours before its vote in the Congress of Deputies, while the plenary session has already started. The Secretary General of Podemos, Ione Belarra, assured in statements to TVE that the contacts maintained throughout this Wednesday with the Minister of Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, Féliz Bolaños, did not serve to link their support to the tax package which will be put to the vote throughout the morning.
The MP explained that her training proposed two solutions to the PSOE so that the rules linked to the fifth installment of European funds were advanced, but these were rejected by the majority partner of the Government, which is in charge of the Ministry of Finance. Podemos demanded from the minister a firm commitment so that the tax on energy companies is maintained – which has already been agreed with EH Bildu, ERC and BNG – and a minimum collection threshold with this rate, to prevent the bonuses included in the drafting of the text for companies that invest to reduce their climate impact from reducing it to a symbolic gesture.
“There is still no agreement, we still have the phones open but I must say that I am very worried. It seems to me that The government tries to hide behind Junts “We believe it is urgent that our country has a tax on energy companies, so that they are held accountable since they are the main culprits of the pollution that has caused a climate emergency with consequences such as DANA “, he added, after launching specific criticisms against Repsol.
The leader of Podemos affirmed that her party would not submit to any form of blackmail and conditioned the affirmative vote of the four members of her parliamentary group on the PSO.And you firmly commit to approving the tariff. Asked about the meaning of her vote if these points were not taken up, she avoided saying whether they would vote against or on the contrary abstain. This is precisely the key to this Thursday’s debate, since the vote against purple would lead to a technical link to 175 supports which would require a double vote, after which if the scales did not tip in favor of the bill, the initiative would decline.
During this vote, the government risks the disbursement of more than 7 billion euros linked to the next disbursement of European funds, a possible sanction for not having transposed on time the directive which establishes a Minimum rate of 15% for large groups and multinationals and would also jeopardize the budgetary adjustment plan sent to Brussels just a month ago, in which it committed to collecting more taxes so as not to be forced to reduce its spending in 2025.
