Sánchez hopes to have Budgets before April and leaves the energy VAT in the air

Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government, confirms that the Executive will extend the 2023 Budgets and that he hopes to approve those corresponding to 2024 during the first quarter of the year. Sánchez, has also left the door open to the end of the VAT reduction on electricity and gas, linking it to the negotiation with the parties that support him, as well as to specific aid for fuel to transporters. In this sense, it has been pointed out that the situation has changed a lot since these initiatives were launched, referring to the current lower level of inflation. In his investiture speech he did announce that the VAT reduction on food and transport aid would be maintained.

In an interview on TVE this morning, the President of the Government has also announced that he is already considering names to replace Nadia Calviño as head of the economic vice-presidency in the event that he is elected to preside over the European Investment Bank (EIB) next week. comes. “I have some ideas,” he responded to questions about the identity of the future successor. Sánchez has also indicated that the transfer will be calm and has insisted on the importance of Calviño being appointed. The president has not made any reference to his position regarding the friction that has arisen between the first vice president and Yolanda Díaz around possible changes in unemployment benefits in recent days.

Defense of amnesty and ‘tariff law’

Much of the interview has focused on political issues; among them the defense of the amnesty, the figure of the ‘verifier’ introduced in the negotiations with Junts, but also in those of ERC, and in the ‘law fare’. On this last point, whose use in the pact with Carles Puigdemont’s party has created a response of rejection from the judiciary, the President of the Government has indicated that it has existed in the use of the police, although not relating it to the independent ism, but in cases of corruption. Specifically, he has given the ‘Kitchen Case’ as an example, in reference to the PP.

Regarding the amnesty, he has insisted that it will be good for everyone and has defended the constitutionality of the proposed regulation that the PSOE has registered in Congress, comparing it with the previous proposal of the independence movement. Also, during the interview, he wanted to put distance between the political approach of Junts and the PSOE, pointing out that the party he leads is committed to the State of autonomies and self-determination. However, he did not want to confirm whether the meeting will take place this Saturday in Geneva, as media such as ABC reported this morning. He has indicated that the identity of the ‘verifier’ will be known.