The mood among deputies is reflected in the remarks of a careful circle of parliamentarians who, drawing on experience, common sense, and intuition, often voice the most shared views. One representative is Aitor Esteban, spokesperson for the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV).
Last Tuesday, during a press briefing at Congress, Esteban commented on the minister Yolanda Díaz and the push to cap certain food prices, saying that it felt like a long series of patchwork solutions. He added that he would have expected a more studied approach from the government, questioning how Díaz could present a position while opposing voices within the coalition pursued different paths, with nothing solid to show for it.
Asked about another recent proposal—linking to mortgage scenarios affected by rising interest rates—Esteban noted that the Euribor has climbed again, affecting those paying a mortgage. This was a point raised moments earlier by Pablo Echenique, spokesperson for United We Can.
Esteban described the measure as another patch. He admitted not having had time to fully review the proposal, but it seemed unclear whether it could be implemented legally, who might compensate, and whether the government might examine it but not impose it unilaterally. He warned that the country is in an electoral phase, as regional and municipal polls in May 2023 coincide with the general elections, a fact that could complicate decisions.
Succession (apparently) improvisation
On Tuesday, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) reported troubling news: prices for food and soft drinks rose by 13.8 percent in August compared with August of 2021. Milk, cheese, eggs, meat, bread, and cereals were the products most affected by the surge.
Inflation stood at an annual rate of 10.5 percent, a decline of three-tenths from July but still in double digits. The evolution of prices has been a concern since the spring, driven by global conditions linked to the war in Ukraine. The summer months of June, July, and August all logged inflation above 10 percent.
Food rose 13.8% year-on-year in August
Sources from various progressive bloc parties in Congress have warned about the persistent inflation and its terrible effects on consumer choices. Some MPs feel a growing emotional distance between their party’s stance and the concerns of voters sharing similar ideologies, with a sense that the next legislature could look grim.
In private, these MPs show more vitality than in public, aside from figures like Gabriel Rufián who, during a control session, told President Pedro Sánchez that measures to curb price rises would disappoint if not agreed upon and properly implemented. He warned that disappointment is a danger for the left and a fuel for the right.
When an ERC spokesperson discussed measures not agreed before their announcement, he referred to creating a basic and fresh food basket at controlled prices and limiting floating mortgage rises. Roughly speaking, both measures align with the left, and if PSOE converted them into decree laws, they could secure parliamentary approval. The obstacle is that the PSOE appears reluctant to move forward.
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Luis Planas, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, offered a clear stance during the control session, stressing that the government does not envision a price-control plan for staples as Díaz proposed. The core objective for Planas remains the food chain law, aimed at narrowing the gap between production costs and sale prices. This regulation, already in force, is central to Planas’ position. Esteban recalled that some prices can be managed, while ensuring producers are duly compensated, noting the legal complexities involved.
Esteban was not surprised by Díaz acting unilaterally as a public move rather than as a formal proposal. Rufián used the moment to press for discussion within their own ranks, asking whether conversations across the party and with others are sufficient to secure a meaningful outcome or whether the rhetoric remains isolated to the public arena.
The day before, Rufián had highlighted the need for a more ambitious approach, suggesting that tax reforms might accompany any new measures. ERC outlined a roadmap, proposing a mortgage recovery fund to ease burdens for families unable to meet payments. In the meantime, the idea of stopping variable-rate mortgages was advanced by United We Can, while CKD contributed its own stance. Minister Montero was pressed to assess whether a joint move could be advanced with Patxi López holding a stronger position. The government indicated that regulatory barriers could impede simultaneous caps on food and mortgage prices.
Economy Vice President Nadia Calviño elaborated on a mortgage law already in place to facilitate converting variable mortgages into fixed ones, indicating that it may align with opposition proposals in broad terms. The general sentiment among PSOE members suggests a cautious but favorable view of capping both food prices and variable mortgages, though the manner and timing of such proposals remain contentious. EH Bildu acknowledged that the steps are in the right direction but insufficient, arguing for a more robust approach, including potentially freezing mortgages. Más País urged the government to push the measures to full implementation, stressing the existence of broad social consensus and parliamentary support.