Legislation in Spain: party programs, behind the Solgans

Sunday’s legislative campaign in Spain was marred mainly by slogans that often sidestepped key debates on the programs of the two main candidates and their extreme allies they would need to govern.

Alberto Núñez Feijoa’s Popular Party (PP, Conservative), for which polls predict victory but without an absolute majority in parliament if it does not form a coalition with the far-right Vox party, reveals its proposals over 112 pages and 365 measures under the title: “The time has come”.

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“Ahead for a better Spain,” reads the 272-page program of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) of outgoing prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who wants to govern alongside Sumar’s radical left.

Economy: Tax Debate and Social Measures

The PSOE highlights the economic results of the Sanchez government, including strong growth (5.5% in 2022) and inflation falling below 2% in June, an overall better performance than its European neighbors.

The PP accused the socialists of neglecting the purchasing power of families and proposed a temporary cut in VAT on meat, fish and canned goods.

Above all, he promises to “reduce the tax burden” for “households, the self-employed (and) businesses” through “comprehensive reform of the tax system”, which will include the abolition of the tax on large wealth.

In this area, PSOEs are considering an “extension” of temporary taxation of profits to banks, energy suppliers and large assets, which Sumar wants to retain.

After increasing the minimum wage and reforming the labor market to fight uncertainty, the PSOE has proposed an “agreement with social partners for full employment” and an action plan against youth unemployment, which is very high. spain,

The PP acknowledged that labor market reform was “good enough” and indicated that it would not back down from it.

He also proposes to fight against the rise in public debt, which exceeds 110% of GDP, and to reduce the budget deficit after years of “unmanageable” debt.

The PP also wants to scrap the recent legislation intended to curb fare hikes.

Environment at the center of conflicts

“Equitable ecological transition”, a priority of the far left, also holds the position of choice among socialists who, for example, set aims for the protection of natural areas, in contrast to the PP, whose representatives in the European Parliament last week voted against the ecosystem restoration law, a key text of the EU’s Green Treaty.

Extending the life of nuclear power plants and developing green hydrogen are key energy measures of PP, while PSOE, an opponent of nuclear power, emphasizes renewable energy.

On the crucial issue of water, in a country whose agriculture depends on irrigation to export its fruits and vegetables across Europe, the PP’s leader promised to “bring water where there is none”. The Left condemns the “unrealistic” proposals and stresses the need for a new model of agriculture.

On his part, Vox, an openly climate skeptic and staunch defender of ruralism and intensive agriculture, advocates pulling out of the Paris Agreement and scrapping the 2021 legislation on climate change and energy transition.

“end the chauvinism”

Alberto Núñez Feijo promised to “eliminate Sanchezism” (named after Pedro Sánchez), that is, “all those laws inspired by minorities and which undermine the majority”, firstly the law on gender self-determination.

He also wants to roll back on the law on explicit sexual consent, which has allowed sex offenders to be released or receive reduced sentences, allowed abortions for minors 16 and older without parental permission and legalized assisted suicide.

On immigration, the Socialists want to increase reception capacity, while the PP calls for a system of selective immigration and strengthening of border controls.

The PP eventually wants to scrap the so-called “democratic memory” law, which was adopted in October 2022 to rehabilitate the memory of victims of the civil war and Francoism.

(with AFP)