josé luis rodríguez zapatero

Politics

Spain’s official electoral campaign kicks off with Catalonia in the spotlight

November 4, 2011 12:05 AM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

According to polls, Catalonia might be essential to ensure the absolute majority to the People’s Party (PP) or to save the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) from getting its worst results ever. The Socialists risk loosing more than a third of its seats in Catalonia while the PP, far from winning in Catalonia, could get its best results. Catalan nationalists ‘Convergència i Unió’, who are the third largest group in the Spanish Parliament, could win the elections in Catalonia, ending the ten Socialist Party victories in a row in these elections.

Politics

Catalan parties are vigilant regarding the Spanish Constitutional amendment limiting public deficit and debt

August 25, 2011 10:28 PM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

Many in Catalonia fear that a constitutional limitation to public deficit and debt may dramatically reduce Catalonia’s already restricted fiscal autonomy, which would not only affect self-governance but also the possibility to pay for investments or public services not guaranteed by the Spanish State. The fear goes beyond Catalan party boundaries regarding the second amendment to the Spanish Constitution, which would be approved through an “urgent procedure”, almost without public and political debate. Catalan senators could force a call for a binding referendum.

Politics

Spanish Prime Minister proposes a constitutional amendment to include deficit and debt limitations for all public administrations

August 23, 2011 11:16 PM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

Main Catalan forces share the need to control public spending and balance public finances but many fear the proposed measure could be used to trim Catalonia’s self-governance. In this line, the Catalan Government’s spokesperson asked Catalan parties to frontally oppose to any measure limiting fiscal autonomy. However, other Catalan politicians are open to discussion but “want to look at the small print”. Furthermore, the Spanish Parliament also approved the fiscal measures announced last week, by which the State will save around 5,000 million euros this year.

Politics

The Catalan Government rejects PM Zapatero’s proposal to impose an expenditure limit for the Autonomous Communities

June 28, 2011 11:15 PM | CNA / Patricia Mateos

PM Zapatero today proposed an expenditure limit for the Autonomous Communities before the Spanish Parliament . The Spokesperson for the Catalan Executive considers it an attack to self-governance and fiscal autonomy. In addition, he stressed that the Catalan Government is the only administration in Spain, at all levels, that has cut its expenditure by 10% in one year. He also asked the Spanish Government to make its own adjustments and pay what it legally owes to the Communities, and to Catalonia in particular.

Politics

The Catalan Government says “enough is enough” to further public expenditure cuts, but Madrid keeps putting on the pressure

April 1, 2011 01:45 AM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

On the same day that Catalan hospitals presented their plans to reduce their budget by 10% and cut several services, the Catalan Government’s Spokesperson sent a strong message to Madrid saying that "enough was enough." The Spanish Government answered the calls by the Catalan Executive by saying that if it does not meet the 1.3% deficit objective for 2011, it will run out of cash. Madrid is asking for greater budget cuts. Almost all Catalan political parties, including the People’s Party, back up the Catalan Government, the main exception being the Socialist Party, which supports Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Politics

Who pays for the public deficit? Autonomous Communities vs. the Spanish Government

March 31, 2011 01:35 AM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

The Spanish Government demands an additional budget reduction of 3.2 billion euros to Catalonia, while the Catalan Government claims 3.3 billion owed by the Spanish State. Catalan parties have accused Prime Minister Zapatero of reducing his government’s deficit by increasing that of the autonomous communities. The Spanish Government wants to force Autonomous Communities to pay for the deficit by limiting it through specific laws.