The ASM denounces a "scandalous territorial bias" in the State's public tenders

PalmThe Confederation of Sovereignist Entities of the Catalan Countries—comprising the Catalan National Assembly, Decidim-País Valenciano, and the Sovereignist Assembly of Mallorca (ASM)—has published a new economic report denouncing the "territorial bias" in state public procurement. According to the study, based on data from 2012 to 2019, 72% of tenders under the jurisdiction of the central government were awarded by bodies headquartered in the Community of Madrid, which managed 87% of the resources. The analysis, conducted by the Valencian Institute of Economic Studies and presented this December as part of the "Catalan Countries, Plundered Countries" campaign, also points out that 60% of the contracts went to Madrid-based companies. These firms accounted for 65% of the total economic volume, even though Madrid represents only 19.5% of the national GDP.

In comparison, companies in Catalan-speaking territories fall far short of their true economic weight: Catalan companies obtain only 8.2% of bids (5.7% by volume); Valencian companies, 3.3%; and Balearic companies, 0.7%. "This data demonstrates a centralism that leaves companies from the Catalan Countries out of the game," stated Zahia Guidoum, president of Decidim, who insists that public procurement is "a key tool" for generating activity and opportunities.

Joan Planes, president of ASM, described the results as "scandalous" and pointed out that this imbalance "is not reflected when discussing the enormous and unbearable fiscal plundering" that, in his opinion, the Catalan Countries suffer. "This report demonstrates the price we pay for belonging to Spain," he affirmed. The Confederation has accompanied the publication with an infographic video summarizing the main data and plans to continue the dissemination campaign over the coming months.