The president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, today attacked the government’s budgetary policy and warned of the risk of investment flight. For the opposition leader, “the Persian market that we experienced in the treatment of the tax package scares away any investor.”
In a speech delivered at the annual meeting of the Spanish Confederation of Managers and Administrators (CEDE), the opposition leader expressed his disagreement with the 81 tax and social contribution increases already implemented and the 46 others which are in preparation, arguing that these increases the measures have not made it possible to improve public accounts, protect the most vulnerable or preserve the health of average incomes.
Feijóo expressed concern about the growing influence of minorities in decision-making. “I think it is essential that in Spain, it is once again the majorities which make the major decisions of the country; for several years, the minorities have imposed themselves on the majorities.”
The opposition leader also criticized the government’s economic triumphalism, saying that the real situation of poverty, both general and that of children, as well as the figures for unemployment and per capita income, do not reflect a positive reality, despite recognition of the country’s economic growth.
The president of the PP underlined his concern about the situation of young people, who perceive a real risk of living worse than their parents due to unemployment, precariousness and the high price of housing. He stressed the need to reverse this trend and ensure equal opportunities for all, prioritizing the redistribution of wealth above other interests and expressed his commitment to defending the national health system and the public pension system. However, Feijóo expressed his concern because, he indicated, “I believe that the Spaniards lack sufficient information about their future and that worries me.”
Regarding the economic situation, he criticized the lack of foreign confidence in Spain, attributing it to political instability and legal insecurity, and supported it by the halving of foreign investments in over the last six years.
The opposition leader raised the need to address the problem of low birth rates by asking administrations and businesses to facilitate conciliation and asked economic agents not to abandon the tables of social dialogue, seeking solutions to two specific problems: lack of productivity and absenteeism.
Regarding the current political situation, Feijóo expressed concern over the instability and alleged corruption affecting state institutions. “Every day, a scandal. Every day, a summons to court. Every day, one more accusation,” said Feijóo, who defended the importance of democratic quality and respect for the institutional order to guarantee the proper functioning of the country.
“You know better than anyone that to lead is to make decisions, not to avoid them so that the common project goes better, not to deteriorate. To lead is to serve and not to serve yourself “None of you confuse running a business or service with just being in management,” Feijóo said. .
The leader of the Popular Party presented his vision of the future of Spain as an alternative, based on policies that he described as “honest” and which “correspond to the needs of the population”.
Feijóo proposed a series of measures aimed at business creation, an energy policy that does not deny technological neutrality, a transversal industrial policy that focuses on sectors with high technological content, an educational policy that bridges the gap between the training received and the needs of the labor market, an attractive tax policy which attracts talent and investments and which aims to guarantee young people a better future.
Concerning artificial intelligence, the theme of the CEDE conference, he recognized its potential for progress, but expressed concern about the risks it entails, particularly with regard to increasing inequalities and the digital divide.
For Feijóo, politics is necessary to manage our societies, but it is necessary to ban bad politics and promote good politics.
“Despite the degradation in which we are plunged and despite the fact that this degradation infects the entire political class, I assure you that I will continue to do my work while being aware that we are in the worst political moment that I can remember and that I I went there for 30 years dedicated to different responsibilities.
