The PP has pressed the government to accept its proposal for a discount on VAT applied to staple foods. This stance was voiced by the People’s Party’s Deputy Economy Minister Juan Bravo, who urged Pedro Sánchez not to adjourn another Council of Ministers session until the reduction is in place. “Families can’t endure this any longer; they have weathered months of rising grocery prices,” the PP stated in a formal briefing.
Bravo underscored that the measure originated with PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo on September 26 and that, since then, Sánchez has allowed twelve councils of ministers to pass without delivering aid to households. He called on the Executive to adopt the proposal at its upcoming meeting. “What are you waiting for, after the Christmas holidays, so that the impact isn’t worse?” he questioned.
In addition, Bravo criticized the government for seeming indifference to families, particularly those with middle or low incomes, and demanded a bailout plan to prevent paying more for the same goods. He pointed to a 300-euro aid for incomes under 14,000 euros, arguing that the 200-euro measure is poorly designed and reaches only a small fraction of families.
Finally, Bravo urged the Administration to delay the implementation of the new plastic tax until January 2024, calling it a levy that Spaniards end up paying through higher prices. He warned that Spaniards will be contributing tens of billions more in 2022—through taxes and social contributions—than in 2019, before the economy recovered to pre-pandemic GDP. The government, he argued, has room to enact these measures and return the extra revenue to citizens. Attribution: PP communications.
December 29 aid package
The head of government and secretary general of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, suggested in Valencia on Saturday that the cabinet would approve the third aid package on December 29. This package is expected to include relief measures for energy-intensive industries, such as gas-heavy sectors and the ceramics industry, to mitigate the economic and social effects of the war in Ukraine, according to official statements. Attribution: government press office.
Details about the contents of this assistance were not fully disclosed. However, Podemos leader Ione Belarra confirmed that discussions with the PSOE are underway regarding a cash check of roughly 300 euros intended to soften the cost of living for about eight million people as part of anti-crisis decrees. The plan also reportedly includes keeping the fuel price cap at 40 euros for the next six months and increasing government funding for urban transport by 50% to support mobility and affordability in urban areas. Attribution: Podemos spokespersons.