The Generalitat’s budgets are now ready for review. The government will present the 2024 accounts following the Consell general meeting, and they are expected to be approved at midday today.
Presidential sources indicate the budgets aim to consolidate social policies, cut political expenditures, and reduce taxes for the Consell. About 30 percent of total spending is earmarked for advanced initiatives, with health receiving a significant portion comparable to last year. In this context, the finance minister emphasized that primary healthcare remains the backbone of the healthcare system and must be well funded.
Live clock 13:34.
On education, officials noted a 1 percent uptick in line items affecting the sector, while the department as a whole totals 6.87 billion euros, including universities and employment programs.
Among the most notable items for Valencian promotion, the budget allocates 19.5 million euros. The council member asserted a continued commitment to Valencian language promotion and multilingualism, adding that there has been no regression in this area, though taxation progress was more modest.
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Finance officials described this as the highest budget allocation in health history. The department, under management of the finance team, totals 8.504 billion euros, an increase of 250 million from 2023. A new 700 million euro General Directorate of Primary Health Care is planned to be created through this department.
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The overall budget figure stands at 29.732 billion euros, a 4.5 percent rise from the left government’s previous estimate. These figures are described as realistic, grounded in real data rather than optimistic projections. When analyzed for real spending, the figure reaches 22.070 billion euros, about 2.3 percent higher than 2023 figures.
The finance minister stated that an imaginary item was excluded precisely to avoid distorting the total. The state financing system estimates payments at 12.798 billion euros, with an additional 2.719 billion from 2022 to be added, marking an increase of more than 16 percent vs. 2023. It is noted that EU REACT funds will be 500 million euros less than in 2023, reflecting a notable reduction.
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The minister framed the budgets as the start of reversing recent irresponsible trends. The public treasury chief stressed that the plan is to consolidate the change in government after the May elections, eliminate unnecessary expenses, lower taxes, and strengthen social spending. The priority is to enhance social services through prudent resource management.
In practice, optimization is already affecting the instrumental public sector, with 2024 costs down 7.7 percent to 3.8 billion euros. Officials caution that more time and deeper analysis are needed, particularly regarding how these accounts are prepared on the Nefis platform. There is a sense of momentum to advance the process.
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The minister also criticized the central government’s data gaps about the regional financing system, arguing that, although internal challenges exist, data from 2019 should have been available. The concerns extend to the accounting figures, the liquidation status of the financing system from years past, and the spending ceiling.
In the fiscal briefing, Merino noted the total budget and stressed that the presentation was made with clear, practical calculations rather than opaque projections.
Merino outlines the budgets for 2024, starting from the current economic backdrop and the debt level carried by the administration. He highlights that debt and interest burdens have grown, affecting commitments across administrations. The plan suggests that depreciation and maturities push the overall debt figure higher year over year, yet he argues this additional borrowing can still support valuable investments. He underscored the intention to use the extra 1.3 billion euros to fund public initiatives without sacrificing sustainable finances.
Looking ahead, the plan anticipates a fourth episode of budgetary adjustments as needed, acknowledging gaps in funding that demand ongoing attention. The finance team condemns any long-term deficits and commits to addressing structural imbalances through reform and discipline.
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The press conference opened with a note of satisfaction regarding the preparation of the Generalitat’s 2024 budgets. The minister credited the department team for their work, emphasizing that the accounts were ready ahead of the official deadline and produced with a single, coherent roadmap. There was explicit mention of harmony and rigor, with no infighting or shocks among the team.
The minister stated that the budgets were crafted to be rigorous and realistic, with implementation starting on January 1. He stressed that the total figure is less important than how it is executed and that this round of budgets aims to avoid empty promises and deliver tangible results.
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Compared with the previous year under a different administration, the first budget package reflected a 1.3 billion euro increase in total spending, with debt service receiving the largest allocation after health, which rose by 250 million euros. The 2024 budget for the Generalitat Valenciana stands at 29.732 billion euros, up from 28.432 billion the year before, signaling a firm path toward steady public investment.
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The Generalitat Budget Law for 2024 has been approved, and the plenary session of the Consell gave its green light to the regional accounts for the coming year. The Budget Support Law covering fiscal measures, administrative and financial management, and organizational provisions was also approved at the executive level.
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The presentation of the budget package included a clear visual display of the core figures and the essential lines of action for 2024. The formal legislative project outlines the regional accounts and confirms the ongoing work to secure definitive support by year-end in the regional parliament.
The budget delivery followed standard protocol, with finance officials leading the briefing and the regional secretary, the general budget manager, and the undersecretary present for the formal handover to the regional parliament president. Other representatives from the parliamentary groups and coordinating bodies were on hand to observe the process.
In the ensuing discussions, various political groups offered comments. Some emphasized accountability and responsibility for the outcomes, while others reaffirmed support for Botànic-style policies and the need to monitor any deviations from those priorities. The exchanges highlighted a shared focus on stability and social welfare as core priorities for the year ahead.
Live clock 11:50.
The Generalitat’s 2024 Budget Law has received approval from the Consell, marking the signing-off of the fiscal framework for the next academic cycle. The plenary session also confirmed the Budget Support Law, reinforcing the administrative and financial management structure for the region.
Approval at the general assembly initiates the broader process of budget execution and governance. At 12:00 sharp, the finance minister will present the main numeric highlights at a press conference, and the plan will move into the detailed implementation phase as the year progresses. This sequence underscores the administration’s commitment to transparency and orderly fiscal management, with a focus on delivering value to the public through careful budgeting.