Costa accuses the PSIB of bowing down to Sánchez: "It's shameful"

PalmA heated exchange erupted between the PP and the PSIB over the funding system. Both parties accused each other on Tuesday in Parliament of acting in accordance with the interests of their parties in Madrid and against the interests of the Balearic Islands, one of the territories most mistreated by the current system. "Their level of subservience to Pedro Sánchez is tremendous," declared the First Vice President and Minister of Economy, Antoni Costa, of the PSIB. "We have an opportunity," retorted the Socialist Yago Negueruela: "Would you vote against Alberto Núñez Feijóo?"

Costa appeared in parliament on Tuesday to explain his position on the Spanish government's proposed regional funding, which would grant the Balearic Islands 412 million euros, 1.96% of the total extra resources to be injected into the system: 20 billion euros. "I don't want 412 million euros, I want hundreds of millions more," the vice president declared, reviewing the indicators that, in his view, should be considered in the new calculation. "I want to defend the transient population, population growth, and the challenges of island life," he emphasized. "If you are satisfied with 412 million euros, the Balearic government is not," he told Negueruela. The vice president reiterated his rejection of the bilateral nature of the negotiations between the Spanish government and Catalonia. "Do you believe that Mr. Oriol Junqueras (ERC) should negotiate on behalf of the citizens of the Islands?" he criticized. He also emphasized a red line: the mechanisms the Spanish government wants to put in place against tax dumping by limiting tax cuts. "How is it possible that they don't defend the tax autonomy of the autonomous communities?" he asked.

An "opportunity"

Negueruela has responded to the criticism by holding a position of power within the government. The Socialist leader insisted that the Spanish government's proposal is an "opportunity" for the Balearic Islands. In this regard, he asserted that the PSIB (Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands) would be willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Balearic Government to defend the interests of this territory. "Would your members of parliament be willing?" he asked. Similarly, the spokesperson for Más per Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia, also invited Costa to "open a space for calm dialogue to determine the limits of negotiation." Although critical of the Spanish government's proposal, the eco-sovereignist insists that negotiations are necessary: ​​"We cannot resign ourselves to being the ones who foot the bill." For Més per Menorca, Josep Castells also emphasized the need to "seize the opportunity" to begin tackling the complex issue of reforming the financing system. According to the Menorcan politician, when Costa insists on multilateralism, it demonstrates that, in reality, he "has no hope whatsoever" of extracting concessions from the Spanish government. "Multilateralism leads to nothing," he pointed out.