They have postponed the debate on changes to the government accounts until next Friday to try to reach a last-minute agreement on the 2024 municipal budgets in the capital Alava. The municipal council (PSE-PNV) needs the support of one of the opposition groups to approve the bills.
The municipal council (PSE-EE/PNV) and EH Bildu have agreed change the calendar for the processing of the municipal budgets of Vitoria-Gasteiz for this year 2024, with the aim of “promote an agreement between the three formations, in order to carry out the public accounts of the capital of Alava.
This was decided by the three political parties, ten minutes before the meeting of the Finance Commission in which the amendments to the budget project would be voted on, which will now be debated next Friday, January 26, as voted by EH Bildu. PSE-EE and PNV, with the refusal of the Popular Party and Elkarrekin Vitoria.
The councilor of the Ministry of Finance, Jon Armentia, has explained that the purpose of postponing the budget debate for two days is to “give more time for the completion of the mandatory technical report” and, despite PP and Elkarrekin’s criticism of the last-minute change, has argued that “the committee can change the calendar until the last minute.”
For his part, the PNV spokesperson, Iñaki Gurtubai, has pointed out that “it is very important that the municipal council has budgets and therefore the change of the calendar can facilitate this, because it is good for Vitoria.” After the vote, Gurtubai told reporters that “there is a will on both sides, both the municipal government and EH Bildu, to agree on the budgets.” “Let’s see if it yields results,” he added.
Finally, EH Bildu spokesperson Rocio Vitero briefly stated that her party will vote “in favor” of a change to the calendar, as they later did.
For her part, PP spokesperson Ainhoa Domaica has criticized the “sloppy way the Etxebarria government is working with the support of EH Bildu.” “An agreement could have been reached yesterday, but the change will not last in substance or form. It is a partisan use of Bildu, proposing changes at will,” he accuses.
Elkarrekin Vitoria spokesperson Garbiñe Ruiz has also been critical of the calendar change and has announced that she will vote against it. “It is not the first time that the calendar of a project is changed at the last minute. It has already happened with the tax regulations,” he recalled, condemning that “the government does not come with the work done.”
The municipal council (PSE-PNV) needs the support of one of the opposition groups to approve the public accounts, as it is in the minority, with twelve councilors, six each, compared to seven from EH Bildu, six from the PP and two from Elkarrekin Vitoria. These last two political parties have already shown their refusal to agree to the cabinet of Mayor Maider Etxebarria.
Source: EITB
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