The Government of Extremadura will invest 375 million euros in the municipalities of Extremadura in 2025, which represents a historic figure in the region. This is how the Minister of Presidency, Interior and Social Dialogue, Abel Bautista, informed the media on the occasion of the meeting yesterday, October 10, of the Local Policy Council of Extremadura, held this Thursday electronically. This investment is a “record figure” in Extremadura, which reflects the “clear municipalist vocation” of María Guardiola’s government.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Presidency, Interior and Social Dialogue, Abel Bautista, and other representatives of the Executive of Extremadura, the municipal councils of Badajoz and Cáceres, the president of the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces of Extremadura (Femex) and representatives of the main cities in the region.
The councilor announced that the Government of Extremadura will allocate 297 million euros to the municipalities, which, when adding European funds, will bring this figure to a total of 375 million euros. This shows “the municipalist vocation” of María Guardiola’s government» said Bautista. To which he added that “we are convinced that the 388 municipalities, districts and smaller local entities are fundamental for the articulation of the territory, for the territorial structuring, for the provision of services; and that the coordination, cooperation and collaboration that must have the With the Government of Extremadura, there is a fundamental question above all others, that of support through budgetary means.
On the other hand, Abel Bautista recalled that the regional government of Extremadura increased in 2024 up to nine (two more than in 2023) the Municipal Economic Collaboration Programs (PCEM)and announced that there will be 12 in 2025. For next year, three new PCEMs will be incorporated: Family Respite, Promotion of Extremadura Tourist Resources and Professional Orientation and Prospecting.
The advisor indicated that The municipalities of Badajoz and Cáceres have decided to stop contributing 12 million euros to the PCEM for Employment. In this sense, Bautista argued that the Government of Extremadura will make an “effort” in 2025 and “consolidate” the 12 million that the municipalities of Cáceres and Badajoz “do not invest” for the Municipal Economic Collaboration Program in matters of employment and, in addition, the regional government will contribute an additional two million.
Bautista recalled that the municipalities of Badajoz and Cáceres contributed 12 million euros to the PCEM employment budgets with the previous government; and they were also planned for 2023, but they decided not to go in. “There was a commitment for 2024 and they didn’t take it either”, which he defined as “a clear example of political sectarianism“.
Despite this, These 24 million euros were covered by the community’s own funds. And by 2025, “not only will we assume again the 12 million euros that municipalities do not provide, but we will increase them by two million more,” he said.
In this sense, the advisor recognizes that “citizens must not come at the expense of political sectarianism or absolutely erroneous decisions or which depend on the color that governs at a given moment. Citizens must receive the services they deserve” .
