On this Monday, negotiations for the upcoming General State Budgets with the Socialist party will begin. Though the final approval of these accounts is uncertain, as the government does not have the necessary support to pass them in congress, Vice President Yolanda Diaz’s party, named Sumar, wants to start the process with a big event attended by all its ministers and parliamentary group parties. During this event, they will release a proposal document with the goal of pressuring the government partner and showing a strong and united front. The budget for 2025 is crucial for Sumar, as it allows them to implement their political project in the government and show their worth after a complex first year in office.
Despite poor election results and a leadership crisis within the party after Diaz stepped aside, Sumar has been largely out of focus and with little room to maneuver in the public debate. However, their departments have continued to work on relevant issues. For example, the Ministry of Labor recently approved a royal decree to improve regulations on occupational health and safety for domestic workers and home care assistants. The party insists that this is an opportunity to advance their agenda, progress in rights, and transform the country on key issues that are the challenge of their generation.
Vice President Diaz is expected to hold a meeting with her four ministers, state secretaries, and parties before publicly presenting their proposals at the Official College of Architects in Madrid. The choice of venue is not arbitrary, as Sumar has been emphasizing the priorities of their document to the Socialist party: issues with housing accessibility, a fair tax reform, and family conciliation permits. Additionally, they focus on ecological transition, public education, healthcare, and feminist advancements. The various ministries’ experts have been primarily responsible for drafting the text, with occasional input from two individuals who have distanced themselves from politics, including the former head of Housing for Sumar and the former Secretary of State for Social Rights.
The government’s intention is to bring the consensus proposal to Congress in the coming weeks and negotiate with each party then. All parties are concerned about the challenges they face, and a further extension of the current budgets is not ruled out. The negotiations and discussions in the coming weeks will play a crucial role in determining the direction of the government’s policies and projects. The uncertainty surrounding the approval of the General State Budget reflects the broader challenges facing the political landscape in Spain. Subscribing to stay updated on the latest developments is crucial to understanding the evolving situation.
