The 'Montilla recipe' for Catalonia to be first "in something"

Barcelona"Welcome, President Montilla," said the moderator before the discussion began at the Palau Macaya. Already seated in the front row, in the middle, the former president had gone unnoticed by most of the audience, middle-aged and elderly men and women attending the book presentation. Economy in crisis. Apprentice of economic history, of the also socialist Carles Manera, former Balearic minister. On stage, the Minister of Economy Alícia Romero completed the socialist triad and would remind the most clueless, up to three times, of the management of the former president who led the second tripartite (2006-2010).

First through investment: although between 2011 and 2020 the Governments of Catalonia invested, according to Romero, less than 1 billion euros annually, the Montilla executive achieved an average annual investment above 5 billion euros. "And now ours is proposing investments of between 3.5 and 4 billion annually. Investment is a clear lever of public policy," said Romero, who did not spare several notices to his political opponents: "Sometimes we complain about others," he said, recalling that "in this country for many years there has been talk about the State's investment in Catalonia and the difficulties of executing those investments"

The second came immediately: "We want to recover the economic leadership that we lost in the 2nd in something," he added. Catalonia is growing (3.6% in 2024), but could distribute wealth better: "If we look at the GDP per capita of the last 20 years, it grows 0.46%". There are those who think that the difference in investment between governments is due to the crisis that seemed relentless in the 80s: "We are not afraid of increasing debt to make investments, as the tripartite did, although later we have increased the debt and we have not invested"

The third came after criticizing Trump and his "occurrences" and encouraging companies to diversify exports and has approved a plan that provides formobilize 1.5 billion euros. "The Catalan government is brave; it was during the tripartite government, not in other eras, when they weren't so consistent. We have defended progressive taxation, we have touched the Property Transfer Tax (ITP)," continued the minister, who didn't spare any barbs even for the middle class on one of the big issues facing the class that complains because, on the other hand, buying a few apartments to rent out, yes. If they bought them to earn a return, they'll have to pay more; if not, they should save in another way."

Romero also defended the fight against fraud, but with another well-honed barb: "We have debated the fiscal deficit, but when we were talking, I said that according to Gestha (the Treasury technicians), what is leaving Catalonia is 16 billion euros; But there are many who steal and evade taxes." During the meeting, the minister debated with the book's author and history doctor Eloi Serrano about the need for a redistributive economy focused on improving living conditions, and also spoke about growth and sustainability. "It seems we must decrease to generate equality; well, no, we can grow while respecting the environment and generating equality." If she was talking about the expansion of El Prat, she did not specify.