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

BarcelonaThe People's Party (PP) is seeking unity among its regional leaders against the proposed new regional financing model, a three-way agreement between Esquerra Republicana, the Spanish government (led by Salvador Illa), and the government of Pedro Sánchez. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo sought to project a united front with them this Sunday in response to the challenge issued by the central government. which has left it up to each community 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 where, despite asserting that the PP is not "against Catalonia," he railed 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 In the investiture of Salvador Illa, still pending finalization in a second phase of negotiations.

One by one, the 17 regional leaders of the PP (People's Party) 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—. The PP leader boasted of being able to demonstrate unity 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 were not initially so forceful. From the Valencian Community, the Finance Minister, José Antonio Rovira, said the figures "didn't look bad" – they would receive another 3.7 billion.

In any case, Feijóo wanted to establish his profile and position himself as an alternative to a government he accused of spending money on "bribes" while neglecting public healthcare. "There's no room for privileges in Spain," he exclaimed, and accused the Spanish president of having handed the keys to the coffers of the autonomous system to the leader of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, and making him "Minister of Finance." These wouldn't be the only functions that, according to the PP leader, the ERC leader is exercising, but also those of "President of the Generalitat." "Why is Isla there? They should put Junqueras in once and for all," 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—although, with the support of the Republicans, Sánchez does not have a sufficient majority: Junts also needs it, having broken off relations with the Socialists—And the second, he continued, wants 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 ceded taxes are taken into account when calculating the resources available to an autonomous community, which disadvantages those that have chosen to forgo them in terms of taxation. And this is where Feijóo has wrapped himself in the banner of regional autonomy and guaranteed that, in exercising his powers, none of his regional governments will accept the central government imposing changes on their tax policies: "We will not raise the taxes we have lowered," 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 that 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 does not?" he said.

Azcón raises his voice

In defense of the "common project" that 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 has 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 autonomous communities will eventually adopt the new model because "none will receive less than they currently do." Only Cantabria and Extremadura will remain the same, but they won't lose any money either. With an eye on the election campaign, the Aragonese president and PP candidate, Jorge Azcón, also spoke at the event, engaging in a direct confrontation with the Socialist candidate and former minister, Pilar Alegría. Azcón recalled how, 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, let her bring his partner Junqueras. We want to see both of them here," he concluded. Azcón has clashed with the president of the Generalitat over the Sijena artifacts held at the MNAC. The Popular Party candidate has also accused Montero of obfuscating with figures instead of clarifying 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.