The fiscal homogenization that Pedro Sánchez defends in Europe, but also in Spain to avoid the race for tax cuts promoted by the autonomous communities governed by the Popular Party, and especially Isabel Díaz Ayuso from Madrid, is reflected in the regional framework program with the one that the PSOE concurs to the elections of the next 28 of May. “Guaranteeing the same tax treatment for all citizens, regardless of where they live or work”, is one of the commitments made by the Socialists, according to the electoral program ratified on Saturday by the PSOE federal committee.
“It is necessary to achieve an optimal balance in the exercise of the regulatory powers of the autonomous communities on taxes, so that taxation does not distort the decisions of the vital projects of citizens or the investment decisions of companies”, argues the document approved by the socialists.
In addition, and despite the fact that this legislature will not be one of the reform of the regional financing system as Sánchez promised in his investiture speech, the PSOE once again reflects this commitment in its electoral program. The claim is, thus, “to reach an agreed proposal for the reform of the regional financing system, based on solidarity, sufficiency, equity, transparency and fiscal co-responsibility, guaranteeing equal access for all citizens to public services”. The principle of ordinality, that eternal demand of the PSC that the southern PSOE always understood as a reduction in solidarity between territories, therefore remains out of the focus of the program.
Although the text does admit differentiations. The document thus proposes “adjusting the actions of the administration to the social, economic, geographical and demographic realities of Spain”. “The financing of the autonomous communities must ensure the autonomy to adopt spending decisions that satisfy the differentiated needs,” defends the programmatic text of the Socialists.
It should be remembered that the current financing system for the autonomous communities of the common regime, approved in 2009 under the mandate of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero after an intense negotiation with the Generalitat led by José Montilla, had an expected term of five years, for which has expired since 2014. In other words, it will soon be a decade.
But, despite the insistent claims of the communities that feel most underfinanced, especially by the Valencian president, Ximo Puig, the pandemic crisis and the lack of any understanding with the PP forced the Government to postpone this reform -except the new calculation of the adjusted population–, however, compensated with the injection of extraordinary resources to the autonomies throughout the legislature.
A total of 15 priorities, articulated through 300 proposals, contemplates in any case the regional framework program of the PSOE, in terms of employment, immigration, territorial cohesion, demographic challenge, ecological transition, equality and diversity, social services, health and education public, vocational training, youth, primary sector, science and innovation, or culture.
Among other generic proposals, the program defends the participation of the autonomous communities in the management of immigration. With one objective: “Guarantee public policies in line with the needs of the migrant population and the autonomous community itself, promoting collaboration with the general administration of the State.” In addition to “cooperating to match the needs of the labor market with the potential of each autonomous community.”
In accordance with the recent parity bill approved by the central Executive, the program calls for “guaranteeing parity between men and women in our governments, and promoting the presence of women in positions of responsibility in all structures.” Also, In line with the drive to abolish prostitution agreed upon by the PSOE in its last federal congress, the programmatic text is committed to regional plans to eradicate any form of sexual exploitation.
Regarding water management, they propose “regulating the application of fees and pricing processes for water uses, taxing the greatest use and encouraging savings and efficiency systems.”
