ERC and its red lines
One of the key conditions established by ERC for political negotiations is the achievement of unique funding. This proposal includes the transfer of 100% of the taxes collected by Catalonia, as well as the establishment of a solidarity quota and the transfer of the amounts of the services provided by the State to the country. This red line excludes, initially, the two parties with which ERC would predictably have pact options. The president of the Generalitat and ERC candidate, Pere Aragonès, has criticized the PSC’s funding proposal, describing it as less ambitious and less annoying for Madrid. In addition, he has rejected Junts’ funding proposal, stating that it would leave Catalonia in a worse situation.
Valuation of financing agreements
According to Aragonès, with the investiture agreement, ERC obtained a remission of 15,000 million from the Autonomous Liquidity Fund (FLA), while with the Junts proposal it would only be 5,000 million, a considerably lower figure. This would lead to a loss of 10,000 million if Junts’ proposal was accepted. ERC complains that with confiscated finances it is not possible to return to the people the effort they make in the form of public services, and criticizes Junts’ proposals as improvised and without rigor.
Analysis of the financial situation
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Natàlia Mas, has highlighted that the cuts of the last 10 years have been reversed, with a 26% strengthening of the budget. In addition, he regretted the negative impact of the Commons’ rejection of the budgets, stating that this has harmed the public. He also reported that the Generalitat collects only 9% of the taxes generated in the country, generating a fiscal deficit of 22,000 million euros per year, equivalent to 10% of the Catalan GDP.
Improvement objectives
The Vice President of the Government, Laura Vilagrà, has stated that ERC works tirelessly for the independence of the country, but also seeks to improve the lives of citizens in the meantime. This means fighting for unique funding that allows Catalonia to strengthen public services. Aragonès has expressed his confidence in his government team, assuring that, if he has the opportunity, he will repeat all the councilors of his first Government, highlighting his determination to continue transforming the country.
