Feijóo closes ranks with men against the new funding: "No Spaniard is more unique than another"

BarcelonaThe PP seeks unity among its members males Against the proposed new regional financing model agreed upon by three parties: ERC, the government of Salvador Illa, and that of Pedro Sánchez. The leader of the People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, sought to project a united front with them this Sunday in response to the challenge issued by the Moncloa Palace. which has left it up to each community to decide whether to join a new model that means more resources for the majorityHe made these remarks from Zaragoza, during the pre-election campaign, with a speech in which he asserted that although the PP is not "against Catalonia," it is against a model that, in his view, introduces "privileges" for Catalans, was negotiated "in secret" with the independence movement, and violates "the principle of equality." "No Spaniard is more unique than another, therefore this separatist system is unacceptable," he said, referring to... to the unique financing model agreed between ERC and the PSC for the investiture of Salvador Illa, still pending finalization in a second phase of negotiations.

One by one, the 17 males Members of the People's Party (PP) approached the podium where Feijóo stood to sign the Zaragoza Declaration, a document in which the PP updates the principles it defends for a new financing model, including giving more weight to criteria such as depopulation—a variable that, for example, would benefit Aragon. The PP leader boasted about the unity he achieved with his regional leaders in defense of the "equality and solidarity" of all Spaniards, while Sánchez must contend with the opposition of the only two strongholds where the Socialists govern, apart from Catalonia: Castile-La Mancha and Asturias. However, despite the PP's unified rejection already expressed in the Fiscal and Financial Policy Council, some regional leaders of the party were not initially so emphatic. From the Valencian Community, the Minister of Finance, José Antonio Rovira, said that the figures "didn't look bad"—they would receive another 3.7 billion euros.

In any case, Feijóo wanted to establish his profile and position himself as an alternative to a government he accused of spending money on commissions while neglecting public healthcare. "There's no room for privileges in Spain," he exclaimed, accusing the Spanish president of handing the keys to the coffers of the autonomous system to the leader of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, and of making him "Minister of Finance." According to the PP leader, these aren't the only functions the ERC leader is performing; he's also "President of the Generalitat." "Why is he there, Isla? They should appoint Junqueras already," he criticized, regarding the meeting at Moncloa Palace that served to seal the agreementwhich increases the annual resources that Catalonia would receive by 4.7 billion.

However, several times throughout his speech Feijóo expressed his support "for the people of Catalonia," whom he believes both Sánchez and Junqueras are "using" to achieve their goals. The former, he said, wants to remain in La Moncloa and is using Catalans as an "economic bargaining chip" to secure support—even though, with the Republican vote, Sánchez does not have a sufficient majority: Junts also needs it, having broken off relations with the Socialists—And the second, he continued, is to "weaken" and "fragment" the State. According to Feijóo, that's why the Republicans want a Catalan tax authority.

The autonomist flag

One of the new features The announced model's effect is against tax dumping This means that devolved taxes are taken into account when calculating the resources available to an autonomous community, which disadvantages those that have decided to lower them. And this is where Feijóo has wrapped himself in the banner of regional autonomy and guaranteed that, in the exercise of his powers, none of his regional governments will accept the central government amending their tax policies: "We will not raise the taxes we have lowered again," he said. Not the inheritance tax, nor the wealth tax, nor the property transfer tax, which are tax-exempt in communities like Andalusia and Madrid. With this defense of regional autonomy and of a "plural and diverse" Spain, which is a sum "of cultures," Feijóo took the opportunity to distance himself from Vox, which supports abolishing regional governments. "With each step forward in the dismantling of the State perpetrated by the government, it is the autonomous communities that are implementing a state policy that sustains the nation [...]. What would happen if Spain did not have state representatives who believe in Spain when the Spanish Prime Minister himself does not?" he said.

Azcón raises his voice

In defense of the "common project," which he believes all regional governments should work towards, Feijóo maintained that the new model should be discussed in the Fiscal and Financial Policy Council, not in bilateral negotiations with Catalonia. "We will not tolerate Catalonia being expelled from its rightful place, which is a table where we all sit," he stated, adding that Catalonia should be a "protagonist" within Spain, but not in "more trickery," alluding to the independence process. If he reaches La Moncloa (the Prime Minister's residence), Feijóo announced that "in the first month" he will convene a Fiscal and Financial Policy Council to reactivate the multilateral working groups to present a new proposal. And, should it be approved, to repeal Sánchez's proposal. In an interview this Sunday... The VanguardThe Spanish president expressed his conviction that all the autonomous communities will eventually adopt the new model, because "none will receive less than they do now." Only Cantabria and Extremadura will remain the same, but they won't lose money either. With an eye on the election campaign, the event also featured a speech by the Aragonese president and PP candidate, Jorge Azcón, who engaged in a direct confrontation with the Socialist candidate and former minister, Pilar Alegría. Azcón recalled that at the congress where he was proclaimed leader of the Aragonese Socialists, Alegría brought Isla to Zaragoza as a "star guest." After the financing agreement, he challenged her to do it again so she could "explain" how good it is for the people of Aragon," he quipped. "And if Salvador Illa isn't enough for her, she should bring along his partner Junqueras." “We want to see them both out there,” he concluded. Azcón has clashed with the president of the Generalitat over the Sijena artifacts belonging to the MNAC. The Popular Party candidate also accused María Jesús Montero of obfuscating with figures and failing to clarify the issues. Implications of the principle of ordinality in the new system - he only specified that it applies to Catalonia -. "When you can't understand a minister, it's a bad sign. When the minister is a socialist and she's the finance minister, it means she wants to screw you over," he exclaimed.