Spain To Extend Anti-Crisis Measures For A Further Three Months
Spain News
Published: 01 June 2022 17:40 CET
Updated: 07 March 2023 17:40 CET
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced that the government will extend the anti-crisis measures in response to the rise in inflation brought about by the conflict in Ukraine.
The original measures which were originally voted in at the end of March will now run for a further three months until October.
At a press conference, Sánchez said, “We are going to continue protecting the families and companies of our country while the effects of the war last", and as a result "the Government will extend the response plan to the war for three more months.”
"This Government is the same that protected the Spanish people during the pandemic and now we will do the same," he said.
The measures which will be extended include a 20 cent reduction in the price of a litre of fuel and a ban on companies from laying off staff due to an increase in energy costs.
The monthly rental cap which applies to landlords will also be maintained meaning that a landlord may only increase the monthly rent by a maximum of 2% over the next few months.
The increase of 15% to the Minimum Vital Income (IMV) along with a reduction in the electricity bills to more than 1.9 million poorer households will also persist until the measures are lifted.
However, there are doubts as to whether the measures are having a positive impact on those who need the most support.
Minister of Consumer Affairs Alberto Garzón said on Wednesday that the executive was studying how to introduce greater progressivity in the distribution of the fuel discount so that it can reach those who need it most rather than indiscriminately giving it to the whole country.
When the measures were first approved at the end of March by the Council of Ministers, the focus was on relieving the financial pressures on the whole country. However, this has now changed, with the government looking to distribute the aid to the citizens who are much more financially exposed to the increase in the cost of living.
Prime Minister Sánchez had a message for the Partido Popular party who rejected the current proposals, encouraging them to vote for the extension when it is put to Parliament.
“Let’s see if we have more luck and those who say they love Spain show their love for the Spanish people by approving measures which are beneficial for them,” he said.
Source
https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5008908/0/sanchez-anuncia-que-prorrogara-tres-meses-mas-el-plan-de-choque-contra-las-consecuencias-de-la-guerra/
https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/spains-anticrisis-plan-20220601145159-nt.html
Image Credit: La Moncloa - Flickr
