Marisa Cruz Madrid
Madrid
Updated Saturday, March 30, 2024-01:59
The Popular Party wants to assert its work in
Congress
against criticism from the
Government
, which calls its opposition work destructive. The
Popular Party
takes advantage of the break that the Executive intends to impose on legislative activity, due to the electoral calendar that extends until June and that will deprive it of the support of its pro-independence allies, to show all the initiatives that they have managed to carry out in just two months, many of them counting on the vote in favor of two of the key partners of the investiture bloc: PNV and
Junts
.
The
Popular Group
has achieved the total or partial approval of up to 22 non-law proposals, initiatives that urge the Government to adopt certain measures or policies but to which the Executive may or may not pay attention, thus evidencing its degree of respect for the majority pronouncement of the camera.
The proposals promoted by the popular ones affect policies related to energy and taxes; agriculture, fishing and food; the policy of the
Ministry of the Interior
;
healthcare
;
education
and
culture
;
foreign relations
;
the House
;
Justice
;
research
and
social measures.
In the field of energy, the PP highlights the approval of its proposal urging the
Government
to maintain the VAT applicable to electricity, gas and biomass at 5% throughout 2024; 0% to the
Tax on the Value of Electrical Energy Production
and 0.5% applicable to the special Tax on Electricity. Likewise, the maintenance of the current discounts on fuels for professional use was approved at the request of the popular people. Although the energy poverty data is still very high, the Executive has ignored the request of the Chamber and the VAT on electricity and gas has risen again to 21%.
In relation to foreign policy, the PP managed, with the support of all groups except PSOE and ERC, to urge the Government to promote a State policy in relation to Western Sahara, returning to the historical position maintained by
Spain
with respect to its former colony and inform Congress of the calendar agreed with
Morocco
to reopen the commercial customs of
Ceuta
and
Melilla
. None of these demands have been addressed by the Government.
Furthermore, with the support of Vox and
Junts
and the abstention of the PNV, a non-law proposal was approved urging the Executive to reject the tyranny of Nicolás Maduro and demand the calling of democratic and competitive presidential elections, free, fair and truthful in Venezuela; request that the EU maintain the sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime and, among other points, facilitate opposition leaders, human rights activists, trade unionists and journalists the possibility of obtaining asylum in Spain if they request it.
Likewise, the Chamber gave the green light to a proposition relating to the invasion of Ukraine with Podemos voting against and Sumar, EH Bildu and ERC abstaining, condemning the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia and Belarus as well as their forced adoptions; to propose in the EU the restructuring of the arms industry to increase aid to Ukraine and improve the military capacity of the Union, in line with the proposals of the high representative for the Foreign and Defense policy of the Union, Josep Borrell.
In the field of Interior, the popular ones, with the abstention of
PSOE
,
Sumar
and
PNV
and the vote against
Junts
,
Bildu
and
ERC
, approved to demand from the Government the declaration as a risky profession of the work carried out by members of the National Police and of the Civil Guard, as well as making the appropriate modifications for their early retirement on a voluntary basis.
Likewise, the Chamber, at the proposal of the
Popular Group
, has urged the Executive to guarantee that the MIR position election system does not leave vacant positions; urgently expand the number of specialized medical training places in Family and Community Medicine and the implementation of a National Plan against Attacks on Healthcare Workers.
In terms of housing policy, Congress has urged the Government at the request of the
PP
, with the support of
Vox
and
Junts
and the abstention of the
PNV
, to stimulate the supply of housing by influencing the expansion of the number of apartments for rent affordable to young people. with adapted taxation, betting on deductions and tax reductions, at the same time that the law for the Right to Housing is reformed to avoid the violation of the exclusive powers of the CCAA.
In relation to social policies, the
popular
have managed to push forward, without votes against, a proposal by virtue of which the Government must approve within a maximum period of three months the regulation of inclusive labeling and in Braille alphabet for goods and services. consumer products in order to guarantee the safety, integrity and quality of life of blind and visually impaired people and promote fiscal and financial support measures that mitigate the economic impact that may arise for companies. Likewise,
Congress
has given the green light to a proposal that requires the
Executive
to comply with the financing of 50% of the dependency care system as established by law.
In the field of food, the
PP
with the support of
Vox
and
PNV
and the abstention of Junts urged the Government to maintain the VAT reduction on basic products in the shopping basket and extend it to meat, fish and preserves.
Junts
also joined the points of the proposal that called for a specific
PERTE
for the food fishing sector as well as acting before the
EU
to intensify controls on products arriving from third countries; reinforce the image of Spanish food products in the markets; demand the flexibility of the
CAP
or demand the immediate payment of compensation for products that have suffered attacks on French territory.