The candidate of the PSC in the Catalan elections, Salvador Illa, is not in favor of lowering taxes in Catalonia. In a volatile context, of “big changes” on an international scale, the socialist aspirant to the presidency of the Generalitat considers it better not to touch a fiscal pressure that in the Catalan case is aligned with the European recommendations.
He pointed this out yesterday in a colloquium held at the Equestrian Circle, in which he again set out his priorities in the event that he ends up governing the Generalitat, which are none other than the management of public services, with special attention to education; drought, infrastructure and renewable energies.
Illa justified his refusal to lower the fiscal pressure precisely because of the need to recover the excellence of public services which, in his opinion, do not enjoy the appropriate level after ten years of successive pro-independence governments, so that the his position in this regard does not respond to an “ideological” consideration, that is to say, to the mandate to represent a left-wing party. The socialist candidate supported his position in the community recommendations.
Illa recalled that the fiscal pressure in Catalonia is even three points below the European average, and he bet, instead, to fight against “unfair fiscal competition”, that is, against fiscal dumping, which ” it must be banished from Spain and Europe”, he opined, and for which he advocates “collaborating with the central Government”. The candidate only admitted the possibility of undertaking “technical adjustments” in some tax figures.
His position on this issue is also consistent with the one he has maintained throughout the legislature, where he has avoided placing taxation as a priority in successive budget negotiations with the Government of Pere Aragonès. In addition, Illa recalled that to make up for the shortfalls in terms of income, the central government has made great “efforts” by injecting public funds in order to reduce the impact of the pandemic or the war in Ukraine. “It was done well and thank you that it was done”, he remarked.
In addition to reiterating his commitment to “correct” the fiscal deficit and resolve funding demands, Illa was open to agreeing with all the parties after 12-M, even with ERC and Junts, but he warned that a new government of both would be “mutual destruction guaranteed” and harmful for Catalonia due to its “constant fights”.
