The First Vice President of the Government and Deputy Secretary General of the PSOE, María Jesús Montero, has denied that the unique financing agreement between the PSC and ERC in Catalonia to invest Salvador Illa translates into an economic pact for the region. Montero emphasized that the new fiscal relationship that Catalonia will have with the rest of the state is based on “solidarity” to ensure that basic services are homogenized throughout the territory. She also accused the PP of using the “confrontation with Catalonia” to oppose the government. The PSOE has taken almost a month to begin publicly explaining the agreement with Esquerra to defend it across the country.
Montero has reassured all territories by emphasizing that the agreement with ERC will be beneficial for the entire Spanish state and that the model for Catalonia will not disadvantage other regions. She highlighted the importance of autonomy, federalization of the state, and guaranteeing equality and solidarity in the agreement with ERC and the PSOE. The President Pedro Sánchez had previously stated that the agreement was a step towards the federalization of the State. However, not all within the PSOE share this optimism, with several regional leaders calling for a meeting of the Federal Policy Council to address concerns and ensure that no reforms will harm their regions.
The visit of Montero to Rota also served to discuss the extra funding received by the municipality due to the presence of a joint military base with the United States. Montero mentioned this as an example of unique funding that does not impede solidarity with the rest. She emphasized that many examples exist in Spain and that Catalonia already has singular financing, making it compatible with a fair funding model for the rest of the territory. The rest of the autonomous communities are on alert due to the agreement with ERC, which states that a new funding model for Catalonia will be based on bilateral negotiations with the State and should be formalized by the first half of 2025.
Montero also expressed regret that the reform of the regional financing system, pending renewal since 2014, has failed to progress due to the maximalist positions of each territory. She invited all parties to change their approach to address the two main issues of the financing system: sufficiency of resources for all regions and equality in the provision of public services. She urged communities to draw inspiration from the agreement with ERC to explore other routes that satisfy the demands for autonomy without breaking the solidarity of the entire territory. The PSOE is facing internal challenges due to the agreement with ERC, with leaders in various regions expressing concerns and calling for unity within the party to address the situation.
