Continuing its push inside government circles and within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister Luis Planas suggested that consumers should simply “go to the supermarket across the street” when prices fail to meet expectations. These remarks came after meetings with supermarket representatives, and were followed by statements about efforts to curb prices without proposing fresh measures. Critics argued that the remarks aligned with the coalition’s minority partner, which has pressed for market intervention for weeks, accusing distribution companies of artificially inflating prices.
United We Can’s parliamentary spokesperson, Pablo Echenique, quickly joined the debate, challenging Planas and at a press conference denying the notion of a freely fixed price market. He claimed that patience should not be demanded from consumers in the food industry, emphasizing the need for action rather than passivity.
The government declined to adopt new steps to lower food costs
He argued that Planas seemed to acknowledge the capacity of different market players to set prices. Echenique criticized the minister’s call for price comparisons among businesses as an attempt to present the market as competitive, noting that the reality of the food-distribution sector resembles an oligopoly, much like the energy sector. He argued that intervention is warranted given the market structure and the impact on households.
Earlier, Podemos pressed PSOE for direct relief, proposing a 14.4 percent discount on basic food prices and suggesting a direct discount at the point of sale. The party also urged a meeting with its coalition partner to discuss these measures. Sources within the party indicated that the request was sent to key lawmakers, including the parliamentary socialist spokesperson Patxi López and the Presidential Minister Félix Bolaños, but that no formal response had been received. Echenique criticized the Socialist side for not communicating a formal position on the issue, noting that the party’s stance only appeared through media channels.
According to observers, the exchange underscored ongoing tensions within the coalition over how to respond to rising costs at a time when consumers are increasingly sensitive to price changes in everyday essentials. The debate highlights the broader question of how government policy should balance market dynamics with direct interventions to shield households from inflation while preserving competitive markets. The discussion continues as negotiators from Podemos and the PSOE seek a path that satisfies both fiscal prudence and social welfare goals, with aides and analysts watching closely how these dynamics will shape future policy in the food sector.