EH Bildu claims “high-mindedness” to seek agreements that go beyond the budgetary scope and Elkarrekin Podemos-IU fears that the investment collected in the budgets will not be enough.
The Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, has assured that despite the absolute majority of the PNV and the PSE-EE in the Basque Parliament, the autonomous government has the “firm commitment” to undertake a “realistic” negotiation with the opposition groups regarding the draft budgets.
Urkullu has responded this Friday, in the full control of the Basque Parliament, to a question from EH Bildu about what the Executive’s intentions are regarding the negotiation of the 2022 accounts with the opposition.
The spokesperson for EH Bildu in the Basque Parliament, Maddalen Iriarte, has stressed that this is an “extraordinary time” in which “broad agreements” are required that exceed the budgetary framework, since only in this way will it be possible to respond to the “extraordinary challenges” that Basque society has to face.
Iriarte has warned that the Basque Government must demonstrate that it “knows how to rise to the occasion”, and that it is capable of facing a dialogue with the opposition “that is not limited to moving three or four items” of the budget project.
Urkullu, who reiterated that the priority of the 2022 budget project is boost economic and employment recoveryAs well as reinforcing social protection, he recalled that the parties that make up his government have an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament, which guarantees the approval of the accounts regardless of the position adopted by the opposition formations.
However, he explained that the Executive has the will and the “firm commitment” to open a negotiation process “with realism” with the groups “that so want.”
“We are open to exploring and improving the budget project,” he said, after which he stressed the importance of “seizing the opportunity” offered by the “solvency” of the accounts and the temporary suspension of the fiscal rules of the European Union for reinforce social policies and investment.
For her part, the spokeswoman for Elkarrekin Podemos-IU, Miren Gorrotxategi, has questioned the Lehendakari if the Basque Government really advocates an expansive budgetary framework that allows to shore up the economic recovery.
The Lehendakari has responded that it is the most solid bet they have made and not only for 2022, since Urkullu considers that it can be a bet “for the entire decade.”
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
