Aragon's Javier Lambán Critiques Catalonia's Financing Proposal as Unconstitutional
Javier Lambán, Secretary General of the PSOE in Aragon, has raised alarms regarding the unconstitutionality of a proposed economic agreement in Catalonia. This agreement, he argues, threatens to undermine the quality of public services in other autonomous communities and could necessitate tax increases. Lambán has firmly rejected any unilateral reforms to the financing system, advocating instead for the Granada Declaration that was established during Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba's leadership.
Speaking to the media following a Federal Committee meeting, Lambán emphasized that regional financing must be treated as a state matter. In Aragon, various political parties have managed to unify their stance, a sentiment echoed by representatives from eight other autonomous communities during a summit in Santiago de Compostela.
Highlighting key concerns, Lambán recalled his call for the Council of Fiscal and Financial Policy to convene. He asserted that a balanced, just, and supportive Spain cannot allow regional financing to be dictated solely by Catalonia's interests. He voiced criticism of the Generalitat President, Salvador Illa, for suggesting a review of the agreement with ERC, which, in Lambán’s view, implies a push towards a unique financing system that would promote fiscal sovereignty through a bilateral agreement with the State.
Describing this initiative as fundamentally unconstitutional, Lambán indicated that it mirrors the Basque concert, which would allow the Generalitat to not only collect taxes but also to dictate their return through negotiations with the Spanish government. Such a shift would disrupt national solidarity and cohesion, resulting in the Catalan government potentially seeing an influx of €30 billion, while simultaneously endangering billions in funding for the rest of the autonomous communities.
The repercussions, he warned, might force other regions to either compromise their public service quality or increase tax burdens on their residents. Lambán articulated discomfort with the very nature of the proposed pact, suggesting that it minimizes the essence of solidarity involved in a cooperative financing model.
He warned that if such a system were adopted, it would undermine the central government’s ability to manage equitable financial policies, cautioning that no effective government would willingly cede control in such a manner. He humorously predicted that should Madrid receive similar demands from other regions, they might find themselves metaphorically adrift, seeking refuge in Mauritania.
Lambán further underscored that this agreement contradicts the essence of federalization. He proposed the revival of the Granada Declaration to steer discussions on necessary reforms to the autonomous state, emphasizing that any model change would require constitutional reform and a collaborative agreement with the Popular Party.
He outlined a vision for a fiscal model akin to Germany's, where Länder would collect taxes but return all revenue to a federal government responsible for equitable redistribution. In concluding remarks, Lambán extended congratulations to President Illa for his electoral victory in Catalonia but stressed that issues like unique financing and amnesty could jeopardize PSOE's standing in regions like Extremadura, Aragon, or Andalusia.
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