The price surge is set to be debated as a return to government-controlled measures during a plenary session of the Congress of Deputies this Wednesday. The opposition will demand accountability from the executive over inflation in essential goods, rising mortgage costs, and related economic pressures, while the president is away in New York to represent the country at the United Nations General Assembly.
Discussions are expected to touch on the potential reduction of value-added tax for basic meals, a proposal under consideration by Finance Minister María Jesús Montero. The Assembly will also listen to Nadia Calviño, the Vice President for Economic Affairs, as the government outlines its plans to safeguard access to affordable food amid the ongoing food price crisis.
Calviño’s “victory”
On the topic of mortgage rates climbing, the opposition has previously pressed Calviño to account for decisions in prior plenary sessions. This time, the focus will shift to the role of the vice president as a target for motions demanding accountability, with leaders from Inés Arrimadas’s party signaling a confidence vote and urgent stances to be debated at the upcoming session.
Calviño is also anticipated to face criticism of what some factions label a “victory narrative” from Vox spokesperson Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, who argues that the government’s rhetoric does not reflect the daily realities faced by Spaniards.
Labor reform and energy policy
Yolanda Díaz, the Vice President for Labor and Social Economy, will be in the spotlight as Vox raises questions about the current employment reform. The assembly will request a formal evaluation of the reform and a defense of its continued validity, particularly whether it has survived a probationary period and met its stated goals.
Teresa Ribera, Vice President of Ecological Transition, has signaled new tax considerations that would support large energy companies. The People’s Party (PP) seeks to know whether the government will adjust its energy policy to align with European Union decisions and the bloc’s evolving regulatory framework.
Bildu to press Escrivá on the pension reform path
On Wednesday, José Luis Escrivá, the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, will be questioned about economic policy and the ongoing audit that frames the negotiation to complete the public pension system mandate. The debate centers on the planned changes to how pensions are calculated, with EH-Bildu asking Escrivá to clarify what is meant by the “small adjustments” that are reportedly being proposed and how they would impact future pension benefits.
The discussions are set against a broader backdrop of fiscal and social policy, where parties are seeking clarity on how reform proposals will intersect with the broader economic plan and the social protections guaranteed to citizens. As the plenary session unfolds, lawmakers will weigh the potential trade-offs between fiscal prudence, social equity, and the stability of long-term retirement provisions, all under the watchful eye of the public and the broader European context. In this climate, accountability, transparency, and concrete policy details will be key points of contention, with the government pressed to demonstrate how it will navigate inflation, housing costs, and the cost of living while honoring commitments to European standards and national social guarantees.