The acting Minister of Finance and Public Function, María Jesús Montero, stated this morning that “the reform of the regional financing system is urgent”. In an interview on La Hora de La 1, Montero explained that it is an agreement that they want to carry out “in the next legislature” and “with all the political parties” that they can, including “the main opposition party.”

The problem of territorial financing is an issue that the coalition government already tried to address during the last legislature and that has been pending updating since 2014. However, they did not find “a necessary climate of consensus,” according to Montero, which caused there would not be “unanimity” to reach an agreement.

However, the negotiation for a reform of regional financing now seems even more complex after the results of the regional elections on March 28. If Sánchez managed to form a government and be sworn in as president, he would find himself in a scenario in which the PP governs or aspires to govern with or without Vox in twelve of the 17 autonomous communities. For this reason, Montero pleads for an agreement that has the support of the “main opposition party”, which would be, in this approach, the Popular Party.

Sources from the Ministry of Finance recall that the Government of Pedro Sánchez already attempted a reform of the regional financing system during the last legislature. “The principles are clear: sufficiency and fiscal autonomy of the autonomous communities”, is the philosophy. However, the quorum was not possible due to the division between autonomous communities.

From the department of María Jesús Montero, however, they lower expectations and do not expect a rapid reform of the model. “It is not done in a week,” they add. The objective is to resume the talks and explore an agreement as soon as possible once the legislature has begun.

From Catalonia, the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, has replied that the intention of the Catalan Executive is to negotiate to reduce the fiscal deficit in Catalonia and has stated that his intention is not to go hand in hand with other communities. “We are not going to negotiate a new financing model with other autonomous communities. We will defend the reduction of our country’s fiscal deficit”, pointed out the president, who has also asked the minister for specifics.

“Do not speculate with the model, if you have a proposal, say so. We will not position ourselves on something that we do not know and do not know,” Aragonès stated in response to Montero. “In any scenario, we will position ourselves so that Catalonia obtains the maximum resources”, he concluded.

The PSOE Deputy Secretary General has also commented on the political panorama resulting from the general elections, and has explained that the negotiations with other forces to invest Pedro Sánchez will continue with “discretion”.

Montero has assured that who is leading the talks “is the main party that makes up the progressive block”, the PSOE, “so we will be the ones who will contact the political parties”, after Sumar assumed the dialogue with Puigdemont last week passed after knowing the results that made Junts mandatory participants in an investiture. On the possible approaches of the PSOE with the formation of Puigdemont, Montero stressed that “any contact is limited by the constitutional framework.” “We have repeated it over and over again,” he added.

Lastly, the minister has pointed out as “a paradox” that the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, “airs a letter and hides a meeting with Vox”. In addition, she has valued the letter from the popular leader to the acting president as “posturing” and a proposal “facing the gallery.” “The PP represents a very small homeland where only they and the ultra-right fit,” she concluded.