Debate Over 2024 Generalitat Budgets Opens in the Cortes

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The Debate Over 2024 Generalitat Budgets Opens in the Cortes

The discussion around the 2024 Generalitat budgets began with a charged exchange in the Cortes. Vicente Barrera, taking the podium this Monday, opened the session by presenting the Culture and Sport accounts. The debate quickly turned tense as participants debated how culture should be defined, with the Real Academia Española’s broad description cited as a point of contention. Supporters and opponents traded accusations of sectarianism and raised questions about amnesty and the broader political climate in the country.

On the financial side, the members of the commission focused on Barrera’s claim that subsidies would be eliminated from organizations aligned with what he described as a Valencian-style process. He announced the removal of subsidies to Espai Joan Fuster, the Federació Instituts Comarcales del País Valencià, the Fundació Carles Salvador, and the Cátedra Vicent Andrés Estellés, emphasizing his pride in these cuts. The statement drew sharp reactions from rival groups within the Cortes and beyond.

Amid ongoing criticism from opposition voices, Barrera asserted that the government would act decisively to block the Valencian process. He maintained that there was no room for defending any writer who advocated the implementation of Catalan-speaking regions within Spain. The term sectarianism entered the dialogue as critics labeled such moves as ideological positioning, while the vice president used the moment to challenge the accounting practices of the Botànic coalition over eight years.

“Bullfighting Is a Culture”

The core exchange between Barrera and Veronica Ruiz of Compromís, along with José Chulvi of the PSPV, centered on two major themes. First, the government defended its support for organizations perceived as fragile, including Lo Rat Penat and RACV, arguing that aiding them would prevent their dissolution. Ruiz countered that these groups were not in jeopardy and labeled the accounts heretical, challenging the justification for additional funding.

The second focal point involved a request for 300,000 euros for the Madrid-based Toros de Lidia Foundation. Chulvi expressed regret about this allocation and questioned whether Valencian culture was being pushed out of Madrid by such moves. He warned that the publishing sector in Valencia was at risk of drowning in the process. Barrera, defending the subsidy, stated that bullfighting represents a cultural practice and that the administration would continue to support it. He even hinted at the possibility of backing the Acció Cultural del País Valencià in pursuing bullfighting activities if that would help preserve the local tradition.

Amnesty Sparks a New Round of Debate

Beyond the technical budget numbers, the most heated topic remained the looming amnesty question. Chulvi pressed Barrera on whether protests near the socialist headquarters might be encouraged. Barrera hinted that he might attend such demonstrations depending on how he felt that day, while also asserting that the country faced threats to national unity. The exchange underscored how the amnesty issue had become a rallying point in the broader political struggle.

Later, José María Llanos of Vox opened his remarks by framing the budget debate as a major setback for democracy, asserting that the plan had the backing of certain party representatives and labeling it a disgrace. He argued that the country must act to preserve national unity and insisted that continued dialogue on budgets would lack meaning without a firm stance. In a closing note, he voiced support for the broader coalition’s opponents in a bid to sustain the nation through what he called a relentless political fight against the current proposals.

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