Gerardo Cuerva (Granada, 1971) has been President of Cepyme since January 2019, when he replaced Antonio Garamendi. He is also Vice President of CEOE and responds to EL MUNDO by telephone.

What do you think about the extension of the alarm state? Unfortunately, until we overcome the health crisis, it will be difficult to return to normal. The measures for the hibernation of the economy seem to us as essential as those taken for the subsequent reactivation. For example, that there are no supply problems for Personal Protective Equipment. It would be a mistake not to accompany companies for recovery. We are risking our economy, the well-being of society and the sustainability of the system. Where will unemployment come after the March figure? It is very worrying and I assure you that the businessman is not talking coldly about the economy or money, but rather putting the People's health, but if the health situation finally forces the expansion of the business stoppage, the destruction of employment will grow exponentially. Can SMEs disappear due to this temporary break? Spanish SMEs are in a critical situation. It is not alarmism, it is a reality and there are more than three million in Spain. They create 70% of employment and develop 60% of activity. What percentage will fall? It depends a lot on how long this crisis lasts. There are sectors that are most affected and government measures are lacking to prevent the company from going bankrupt first, from disappearing, and then thinking about the day after. To give back to the SME is to give it to society. Do the government's shock plans not work? Until now, many times they have remained a good idea, such as state guarantees. They are fine, but they must be expanded from 20,000 to 50,000 million and they have not yet been processed. Now they say that this Monday the banks will start and we will see if they work, and if the concession requirements and criteria allow SMEs to access. What measure do you consider most necessary? Suspension of taxes and contributions as a minimum to organize our companies. Most do not have a finance department that presses a button and rearranges their box. The measures so far are for companies to get into debt. What taxes must be suspended? All, from VAT and Companies and Personal Income Tax and at least until July. And to whom does the Personal Income Tax come back? As simple as Voluntary suspension of filing of declarations. Calviño affirms that they cannot be suspended, because the State continues to have expenses ... He tells us at the Social Dialogue Table, but they have to ease our tax obligations and if not, we will bankruptcy. Either we defer obligations or we go directly to the hole, to bankruptcy. It is very clear. We do not say that we should not pay taxes, but we do say that they allow us all to breathe. And there will also be companies that need direct help, depending on the situation. Unfortunately there is at least part of the Government that does not understand it. The Minister of Labor says that she does not accept their pressures or put their own interests first ... We do not press, but we say what we think. What the Government cannot do is take advantage of this crisis to try to change the system and the economic philosophy of this country. It is unacceptable. Are the Podemos ministers imposing their interventionist vision on the economy? There is a part of the Government with which we are in dialogue such as Nada Calviño, Reyes Maroto or Teresa Ribera to improve things, but there is another part of the Government As he says, they are sowing seeds to turn the system that does not apply. Are the ERTEs not working as Minister Díaz says? I blush that the ERTE is spoken of as if it had been invented by this Government. They have been in the legal framework for decades and were improved in 2012. What the Government has done is adulterate them with conditions such as requiring maintenance of employment in the short term, as if economic activity could be lifted by royal decree as well as a state of alarm. . The ERTE must be relaxed and extended. Employers will be recovering staff as they can. Nobody wants to fire. Is it true that it may be more convenient for SMEs to go to the competition? Unfortunately, to give certainty, there are many lawyers who advise companies to go through the competition and for the orderly liquidation of the company than to go to an ERTE uncertain, sad. That way we would not raise Spain and everything for a partisan vision. When did you know that the Government would decree hibernation of non-essential activities? Antonio Garamendi was called in the early afternoon of that Saturday and we were commenting. At no time did he give his consent. The management of the implementation of the business break has been dire. At 23.40 no one knew what would happen at 00.00. We must modify the decree and go down the relevant steps. Do you see the unions with more access to the Minister of Labor? Honestly yes. There is a clear connection with the two unions, or at least one of them. They are too aligned.

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