Up to what point is the lack of a government affecting Spain and its government? Spain’s Stock Market Regulator (the CNMV) now has no visible head. And the number of public sector jobs cannot be increased, nor AENA’s air fares. But perhaps this is due to other reasons which could have equally existed in a normal political situation.
It’s been over 280 days since the general elections on December 20th and Spain is still without a government. This has its consequences. On October 15th the country’s caretaker government is due to present its 2017 Budget to Brussels and provide information on the adjustments and other measures which it plans to implement to correct the public deficit. But BS Markets says this draft can only be, at most, an extension of the 2016 Budget, a document without any changes.
Spain’s socialist party PSOE doesn’t seem to be too worried about the fact the country may not have a 2017 Budget. But it’s increasingly clear to all of us that the lack of a budget will not be without a cost. On the contrary, it will greatly affect a large part of Spanish society. Almost all economists believe that the impossibility of drawing up new accounts, and updating certain items, could mean that the amount spent on civil servants’ salaries will be maintained.
Spain’s public deficit ranks as the highest one in the eurozone, with the exception of Cyprus. Up to now, a set of exceptional circumstances has allowed for a stance of benign neglect at visible cost. But dangers loom ahead if fiscal rectitude is not firmly enforced.
BRUSSELS | July 3, 2015 | By Jacobo de Regoyos | The Greek crisis has sparked an intense debate about the future of the European Union. Spain recently handed Brussels a proposal on a eurozone-level budget for emergency rescues, and the need of issuing eurobonds. Head of Spain’s Economic Office Head Álvaro Nadal spoke to The Corner about competitiveness and solidarity between members. This is the second part of an interview.
BRUSSELS | June 26, 2015 | By Jacobo de Regoyos | Along with other EU state members, Spain called for a eurozone-level budget for emergency rescues, and issue debt in the form of eurobonds. Álvaro Nadal, Director of the Economic Affairs Office of the Spanish Prime Minister explained it for The Corner. This is the first part of the interview.
The European Union (EU) is a group of sovereign states, who are sovereign in that they are entirely free to leave the EU. This freedom to leave means the EU is not a “super state.” There is no coercive force — and no EU army — to make Britain or any other country remain in the union. Britain enjoys a freedom, within the EU, that colonies did not enjoy within the British or other European empires. Britain is, therefore, entirely within its rights in considering the option of leaving the EU, although that does not mean such a course would be wise.
MADRID | The Corner | The European Commission said on Tuesday it had found no serious fault with eurozone member states’ 2015 budget plans, clearing France and Italy after they made last-minute changes to meet EU demands. The budget review covered all 18 eurozone countries, with the focus on struggling France and Italy after Brussels told them that their original plans fell well short of what was required to meet European Union norms.
(By Barclays) | The Spanish government presented the details of the 2015 draft fiscal budget on Wednesday and the updated macroeconomic outlook underpinning it. There are few changes on the fiscal targets and projections, although the government now expects the economy to grow this year by 1.3% and next by 2% (Barclays: 1.2% and 1.8%). The budget minister in the press conference saw very little risk of the sovereign meeting the deficit target of 5.5% of GDP this year.
MADRID | By JP Marín Arrese | The Spanish Budget 2015 aims at delivering growth and jobs. Yet, the draft disclosed on Tuesday shows the limited scope for enforcing such a goal. The foreseen improvement in the economic environment would increase available resources through enhanced taxable income, a shrinking in unemployment and the debt-servicing bill. The Government intends to use the extra margin of manoeuvre to lower personal income and corporate taxes while increasing public investment. Yet, the amounts at stake hardly represent any sizeable boost for GPD.