The Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, defended this Wednesday in Congress the economic policies promoted by the Government and assured that “it is evident that we are better than 8 years ago and it is evident that this is the correct path”, while underlining that the current macroeconomic figures are “unquestionable”. However, he insists that the objective must be to continue “growing, redistributing and transforming” the economy.
During the control session, the minister highlighted that Spain is growing twice as fast as the European average, that the unemployment rate is at levels close to 10%, the lowest in 18 years, and that the public deficit It is also at the minimum of the same period. Even so, he has defended that these data are not sufficient on their own and emphasizes the need to apply policies that allow growth to reach the middle and working classes.
In this sense, he has vindicated the “progressive” measures adopted by the Executive in recent years, such as the minimum wage is not taxed in personal income taxthe maintenance of the purchasing power of pensions or the implementation of the minimum vital income.
The Government insists on continuing to redistribute growth
For the minister, good economic figures must be accompanied by redistributive policies to guarantee that the benefits of growth are distributed equitably. “For that, in addition to growing and having good macro figures, we have to redistribute,” he stated.
Faced with this position, Podemos deputy Ione Belarra demands new social and economic measures, such as raising the minimum wage to 1,800 euros, improving the conditions of public workers or strengthening health services.
Defense of the role of unions
Arcadi Spain has also highlighted the role of unions in the country’s economic evolution, ensuring that they are a key part of social progress. In this sense, it points out its “indisputable” role in improving working conditions and in the social achievements of recent decades.
The minister thus reiterates the Government’s commitment to social dialogue as a tool to continue advancing in the improvement of workers’ conditions, although he insists that “there is much left to do, without any triumphalism.”