Catalan budget for 2024 foresees 6% rise in spending
Finance minister expects to present spending plan in January
Catalan finance minister Natàlia Mas announced that the 2024 budget will see a 6% increase in spending, describing it as "more expansive" than historical averages but not exceeding 2023 levels.
Mas has insisted that the technical work is "done" and the discussions with social and economic agents are "advanced", while she hopes that the talks with the political parties will progress "as quickly as possible."
She refused to reveal the technical details of the budget "for the sake of caution", but assured that territorial solidarity with other regions of Spain and greater fiscal autonomy for Catalonia are "perfectly compatible".
The minister reiterated the importance of having an "adequate" financing system and of "correcting" a fiscal deficit that "has no precedent in our international environment".
Although she expects the budget to be ready in January, Mas acknowledged a possible technical extension for a few weeks beyond the New Year.