Spanish Senate to Consider Motion of Censure Against Vice President María Jesús Montero
The motion, initiated by the Popular Party, cites multiple grounds including fiscal policies and remarks on the rule of law.
The Senate of Spain is set to debate a motion of censure against María Jesús Montero, the first vice president and Minister of Finance, initiated by the opposition Popular Party (PP).
This initiative comes in the wake of recent controversial statements made by Montero regarding the presumption of innocence during a campaign event in Seville, which the PP categorizes as a significant threat to the rule of law.
Alicia García, the Senate spokesperson for the PP, submitted the censure motion on Thursday, prompting a forthcoming discussion and vote in the upper chamber.
The popular party frames this motion as essential, arguing that Montero's comments constitute an 'institutional irresponsibility incompatible with her role as a minister and vice president of the government.' They assert that questioning the presumption of innocence undermines the professionalism and technical competence of judges, especially following a verdict that acquitted former football player Dani Alves.
The motion of censure also emphasizes other points of contention regarding Montero's tenure as Minister of Finance.
It highlights what the PP deems as a failure to meet the constitutional mandate of drafting state budgets, as the government continues to operate on budgets approved in 2022, without presenting new proposals in the two years of the current legislative term.
Predictably, this budgetary inaction has been characterized as unprecedented in Spanish democracy and is seen as detrimental to regional governments who rely on national budgets for funding local programs.
Additionally, the motion mentions Montero's involvement in what the PP calls the "CUPOS SEPARATISTAS"—a special financing agreement for Catalonia negotiated with the separatist Esquerra Republicana party.
The PP argues that this arrangement disrupts the common financial system for autonomous communities, creating inequality among them and violating principles of equity and solidarity crucial to Spain's territorial framework.
The PP has also criticized Montero for blocking dialogue with autonomous communities, alleging an authoritarian approach that deviates from necessary principles of institutional loyalty and collaboration.
Furthermore, they underscore a decade-long delay in updating the autonomous financing system as a significant concern.
Moreover, the opposition has labeled Montero's fiscal policies as creating a "fiscal hell" for families, self-employed individuals, and small to medium enterprises.
It claims that her tenure has seen close to a hundred tax increases and contributions since the current legislature began, imposing a growing tax burden.
The PP has attempted legislative measures to block some of these tax increases, advocating for a reduction in VAT on basic food items while simultaneously criticizing Montero's refusal to adjust personal income tax rates, which has effectively raised taxes for middle and lower-income households.
This initiative comes in the wake of recent controversial statements made by Montero regarding the presumption of innocence during a campaign event in Seville, which the PP categorizes as a significant threat to the rule of law.
Alicia García, the Senate spokesperson for the PP, submitted the censure motion on Thursday, prompting a forthcoming discussion and vote in the upper chamber.
The popular party frames this motion as essential, arguing that Montero's comments constitute an 'institutional irresponsibility incompatible with her role as a minister and vice president of the government.' They assert that questioning the presumption of innocence undermines the professionalism and technical competence of judges, especially following a verdict that acquitted former football player Dani Alves.
The motion of censure also emphasizes other points of contention regarding Montero's tenure as Minister of Finance.
It highlights what the PP deems as a failure to meet the constitutional mandate of drafting state budgets, as the government continues to operate on budgets approved in 2022, without presenting new proposals in the two years of the current legislative term.
Predictably, this budgetary inaction has been characterized as unprecedented in Spanish democracy and is seen as detrimental to regional governments who rely on national budgets for funding local programs.
Additionally, the motion mentions Montero's involvement in what the PP calls the "CUPOS SEPARATISTAS"—a special financing agreement for Catalonia negotiated with the separatist Esquerra Republicana party.
The PP argues that this arrangement disrupts the common financial system for autonomous communities, creating inequality among them and violating principles of equity and solidarity crucial to Spain's territorial framework.
The PP has also criticized Montero for blocking dialogue with autonomous communities, alleging an authoritarian approach that deviates from necessary principles of institutional loyalty and collaboration.
Furthermore, they underscore a decade-long delay in updating the autonomous financing system as a significant concern.
Moreover, the opposition has labeled Montero's fiscal policies as creating a "fiscal hell" for families, self-employed individuals, and small to medium enterprises.
It claims that her tenure has seen close to a hundred tax increases and contributions since the current legislature began, imposing a growing tax burden.
The PP has attempted legislative measures to block some of these tax increases, advocating for a reduction in VAT on basic food items while simultaneously criticizing Montero's refusal to adjust personal income tax rates, which has effectively raised taxes for middle and lower-income households.
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Translated by AI
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