Government and Comuns reach budget deal, ensuring new 2026 spending plan

Catalonia will have a new spending plan for 2026, with the news coming almost half way through the year, after the government secured a deal with the left-wing Comuns.

This follows the Socialists reaching an agreement with left-wing pro-independence Esquerra Republicana (ERC) earlier in the week.

Catalan president Salvador Illa signed the budget agreement with the leader of the Comuns, Jéssica Albiach, on Thursday.

The deal will be an update of the agreement they had already reached in February, focused on housing and mobility policies.

With this, the budget bill can move forward to parliament assured of majority support.

The ruling Socialists are short of a majority in the chamber, and require the support of both Comuns and ERC to pass bills.

Economy Minister Alicia Romero assured that the government is ready to begin processing the budget bill and estimates they will be approved in the first half of July.

Comuns budget deal

The deal will see €2.5 billion go toward promoting housing policies, €1.2 billion for the 'Neighborhood Plan' across 120 municipalities, and a new law to convert empty offices into social housing units.

The text also includes converting the Rodalies airport line into an extension of the R4 by 2030 and the creation of a general directorate for housing discipline.

The government will also commit to promoting the Solidarity Care Fund, helping families at risk of energy poverty. 

In addition, it is agreed to develop a plan to increase the number of midwives and to keep those trained in Catalonia, to ensure the improvement of the care of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care centers throughout Catalonia, also guaranteeing gynecological care.

The document also includes the creation before the end of the first half of 2027 of the General Commissioner for the Prevention and Reporting of Gender-Based Violence, reinforcing and expanding the Victim Care Groups of the Mossos d'Esquadra, as well as the units investigating crimes linked to gender-based violence.