The Minister of Finance, to Prohens: "You cannot boast about giving gifts to large fortunes and then complain about not having resources"

PalmaThe Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, has lashed out at the regional government's requests for improved funding: "I am tired of hearing many regional presidents boast about giving gifts to the wealthy and then complaining about a lack of resources." He states that they have received a "permanent no" to negotiation from the Government regarding the allocation of an additional 412 million euros annually.

"Balearics will receive the largest amount in history," 63.5% more than under the previous PP government. The minister assured that "few [Spanish] governments have been as autonomist as the current one" and that he respects regional powers, but has asked for responsibility from the Government because "the cost of the blockade is paid by the citizens." Finally, he pointed out Feijóo for preventing autonomous communities from negotiating with the Spanish government. "You cannot be in permanent refusal, you cannot refuse to sit down for no other reason than opportunism and blocking the central government's measures. The Government is renouncing resources without sitting down to talk. If a fiscal hole is created by giving gifts to the wealthy, it will have to be explained to the citizens. If you make reductions for the highest earners, you will have less resources," said España.

The agreements on the island supplement

The Spanish minister spoke about regional financing during a press conference in Palma, where he also claimed that state officials stationed in the Balearic Islands would be paid starting this month up to 700 euros more as a residence supplement, the plus of insularity for public workers of the State. The Ministry of Finance will resume negotiations with unions to achieve a regulatory framework that fully adapts to the "plural and singular" needs of the Balearic Islands. From September, they will begin to work on equalizing the amounts for all civil servants and adopting a reward model based on seniority, in order to retain workers. The objective is to consolidate the same format as in the Canary Islands.

Finally, the minister has advocated for dialogue and respect in the demonstrations against mass tourism after the controversy surrounding the manual on direct non-violent action against businesses linked to tourism published by the platform Menys Turisme, Més vida, against which the political, business, and associative fabric of the Balearic Islands has reacted. Spain has clarified that, as Valencian, he knows the importance of tourism for progress and the demand for regulatory frameworks.