"In politics we are there to solve citizens' problems and not to create them., Which is What does every day the Government of Sanchez”. This was stated this Thursday by the Deputy Secretary of Municipal Policy of the PP of Andalusia, Ana Mestre, who has lamented the “arbitrary decision"by the Andalusian Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, which prevents municipalities that have managed well and have a surplus from using that money to invest in their municipalities.
"One more measure of discrimination, a result of the disastrous management of the Spanish government," Mestre said, emphasizing that, ultimately, everything happening in Spanish politics is a consequence of "Sánchez's lack of parliamentary support." This lack of support is leading him to carry out a management that "constantly undermines citizens' rights and equality."
Thus, the deputy secretary of Municipal Policy of the PP of Andalusia believes that Sánchez's renunciation of his obligation to present a General Budget for 2025 has as its "main victims" to citizens, because it directly affects the management capacity of public services in towns and cities.
As he explained, "the advance payments are no longer the 13% increase they announced with great fanfare at the beginning of the year. They have already acknowledged that, since there is no budget, the advance payments are lower than in 2023, meaning that local councils will receive more than €1.200 billion less.
To the problem of this reduction in state revenue that the local councils will receive, Mestre adds that Minister Montero now says that the surplus, which is what the Budget Stability Law contemplates, will no longer be able to be invested in towns and cities in financially sustainable investments. "They will only be able to allocate it to debt," he clarified, emphasizing, however, that "There are municipalities that have no debt. But there are also town councils that They need that money, that surplus, to improve infrastructure and to improve the towns of Andalusia.".
In his opinion, "this directly influences municipal management and the interests of citizens," because these savings could be invested in the construction of social housing, parking, industrial estates, and, ultimately, in improving essential public services, such as libraries.
Montero condemns the municipalities that manage well
"That is to say, villages can be improved with the surplus that they have accumulated due to good management," he clarified, while lamenting that "the Sánchez Government only sees a source of funding in the municipalities that have done their homework better."
For Ana Mestre it is "very contradictory once again that while Minister Montero forgives the debt of her pro-independence partners, condemns the municipalities, condemns the citizens, condemns the investments of the cities and towns of Andalusia." "A disregard for the interests and rights of citizens," he emphasizes. And he adds: "Once again, the political establishment prevails over the needs and interests of all Spaniards."
For this reason, the People's Party (PP) in Andalusia will submit a motion to the plenary sessions of all local councils requesting that the Spanish government, "since it has decided of its own accord not to hold a General State Budget for 2025, present a legislative provision with the rank of law similar to that of the budget, allowing local council surpluses to be invested." "That is what we want, because it is fair, and because the men and women of our communities need it."
Ana Mestre believes it is "essential" for the Spanish government to reverse this decision and "deal with it once and for all."
The Andalusian People's Party (PP) defends municipalism in the face of Sánchez's discriminatory treatment.
For the deputy secretary of Municipal Policy of the PP of Andalusia, “It is important that we take the lead in defending the interests of Andalusians. and let's do what we did when we learned about the agreement with the city of Jaén to obtain the Mayor's Office." "We demand that each and every one of the measures that would benefit Jaén be also allowed for those municipalities that had a similar economic situation," he recalled.
"We've done it actively and passively, we've said it everywhere, because it was fair, because a city council can't be benefited in such a partisan manner as the PSOE intended," he continued, "and today we see how it appears that there will be a series of measures similar to those in Jaén for the city councils that need them." "It seems so," he clarified, warning that "it remains to be seen whether this will be fulfilled."
However, he emphasized that "we are going to do the same with the surplus" through the announced motion. "From Andalusia, we will continue to raise our voices in favor of local autonomy, in favor of municipalism." "And what We will not allow discrimination between peoples.”, he assured.
Mestre also warned that "if we need to carry out other types of actions, they will also be carried out, because that surplus belongs to the residents of the towns and cities of Andalusia. It doesn't belong to Ms. Montero due to a lack of parliamentary support. We will not allow the future to be stolen from us Andalusians."
In conclusion, the Deputy Secretary for Municipal Policy for the Andalusian People's Party (PP) argued that "in Andalusia, fortunately, we have a serious government that, in the face of the problems generated by Pedro Sánchez's government, provides solutions." "We continue to see this every day with tariffs and everything else that's emerging, because this government is not oblivious to the needs of its citizens."
"In Andalucia we lowered taxes, things that don't work are fixedIn Andalusia, we constantly work hand in hand with the different sectors to continue growing. We simplify procedures and what we do is help everyone do a little better," he concluded.
