Catalan government accelerates budget talks amid crises. Catalonia’s authorities are urgently addressing acute conflicts in education, police and transport. Without resolving these issues, the approval of the budget remains uncertain. Key concessions are being discussed with unions and Esquerra Republicana.
In Catalonia, the government led by Salvador Illa has intensified efforts to negotiate the budget in the coming days. The main task is to remove obstacles hindering an agreement with Esquerra Republicana, without whose support the financial plan cannot be approved. Three critical crises have come to the forefront: the situation in schools, the dispute surrounding the Mossos d'Esquadra, and problems with the Rodalies commuter trains.
Education and police under pressure
At a session of the Catalan parliament, representatives of the Interior Ministry admitted to an error related to deploying Mossos d'Esquadra officers at a teachers' assembly protesting government policy. This move signaled the authorities' willingness to make concessions to ease tensions in the education sector. The admission of error was seen as a symbolic victory for the unions, which continue to organize strikes and protests affecting not only schools, but also families and organizations involved in children's recreation.
Another meeting between the Ministry of Education and the unions is scheduled for today, following the recent general teachers' strike. The authorities are prepared to discuss expanding agreements with UGT and Comisiones Obreras to increase funding for inclusive schools. However, the issue of salary increases, especially USTEC's demand for a €400 monthly raise, remains unresolved. Salvador Illa himself, currently in the United States, emphasized that such amounts are still beyond the budget's reach, even if it is approved soon.
Transport and budget impact
The second key front is the situation with Rodalies. Despite ongoing disruptions in commuter train services, passengers have resumed paying for tickets since last Saturday. Esquerra Republicana insists that without concrete steps to improve rail connections, support for the budget is impossible. In response, the authorities announced progress on the Rodalies orbital line project, which will allow the metropolitan area to be crossed without entering Barcelona. Additionally, there are discussions on expanding the Catalan government's powers in airport management and creating a state company to speed up federal investment.
These measures are intended to convince Esquerra Republicana of the government's serious intentions and move closer to a budget compromise. However, as negotiators note, there is still a difficult road ahead before final agreement is reached.
Context and consequences
In the coming days, the fate of Salvador Illa’s entire political agenda will be decided: passing the budget would allow the legislature to end with minimal upheaval. Otherwise, the region risks facing new waves of protests and protracted negotiations. Against this backdrop, tension in Catalonia remains high, comparable to the situation in other Spanish regions where sports and social issues have also sparked heated debates — as recently happened in Malaga, where the football club has entered the decisive phase of the season, which was examined in detail in the report on the start of key matches for promotion to the Primera..
