The Catalan Parliament has passed Salvador Illa's first budget after two years of negotiations. The €49 billion plan faces criticism from opposition parties and highlights unresolved issues in funding and education.
The Catalan Parliament has approved the first budget of Salvador Illa's government, ending nearly two years of political deadlock in the region. The €49 billion spending plan, the largest in the history of the Generalitat, was backed by the coalition of PSC, ERC, and Comuns, securing 69 votes in favor against 66 from the opposition. The vote marks a significant milestone for Illa's administration, which has struggled to secure parliamentary support since taking office.
The approval comes after months of tense negotiations and is seen as a crucial step for the stability of the current legislature. However, the process exposed deep divisions among Catalonia's political forces. Junts, PP, Vox, CUP, and Aliança Catalana all voted against the budget, with Junts presenting over 1,300 amendments and criticizing the government's lack of ambition and leadership. A voting error by Junts deputy Noemí Nieto briefly added confusion to the session.
Key points of contention remain unresolved. ERC, while supporting the budget, emphasized the need to address Catalonia's funding system and ongoing conflicts in the education sector. The party highlighted the inclusion of specific projects such as the rural development plan, the orbital line, and building rehabilitation initiatives. Comuns, meanwhile, focused on housing measures, including increased rental assistance and new protections for affordable housing. The party also demanded swift implementation of legislation to curb speculative property sales, underscoring housing as a central issue for the current mandate.
Opposition parties voiced strong criticism. Junts accused the government of political stagnation and failing to accept any opposition amendments, calling the process unprecedented. The PP described the timing of the budget as surreal, while Vox denounced what it called an unfair and confiscatory tax policy. Despite these objections, the government now moves forward with budget allocations set to begin on the 14th of the month, aiming to implement the new spending across departments.
The passage of the budget aligns Catalonia with other autonomous communities like Navarra, Asturias, and the Basque Country, which have also recently approved their own spending plans. The timing is notable, as the next fiscal year is expected to be dominated by municipal and general elections, making it likely that this will be the only budget of Illa's term. The debate over Catalonia's financial autonomy and the unresolved education dispute signal that political tensions are far from settled, even as the government seeks to project stability and normalcy.
Catalonia's budget process is closely watched across Spain due to its size and the region's influence on national politics. The Generalitat's spending decisions impact public services, infrastructure, and social programs for over seven million residents. The ongoing debate over fiscal arrangements and regional autonomy remains a central issue in Spanish politics, with potential implications for future negotiations between Catalonia and the central government.
