The Spanish Government

The Spanish Government has finally approved in two decrees the revaluation of pensions, as well as other measures of social shield, in order to obtain the agreement of the groups and, on the other hand, the extension of the suspension of evictions.

Arancha Gonzalez Laya, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Spanish Government, has called for the creation of unique legal regulations in Europe and to avoid 'divisions'. Gonzalez Laya has been invited speaker at the annual breakfast of the Milestones Forum. 

Pello Otxandiano welcomes "everything that increases the ability of the Basques to decide on issues that affect our daily lives and the well-being of our citizens." 

The spokeswoman for the Basque Government, Maria Ubarretxena, has announced that the central and Basque governments will sign on Friday the transfer to the Basque Country of five other competences of the 1979 Gernika Autonomy Statute, including unemployment benefits and non-contributory social security benefits.

Maria Ubarretxena, Counsellor for Governance, Digital Administration and Self-Government and spokesperson for the Basque Government, has recalled that there are still issues to be negotiated, but has stressed that they cannot always be working against the clock. "We ask for seriousness and another way to start negotiations," added Ubarretxena.

Interviewed today on Radio Euskadi, the former councillor of the Basque Government has said that he hopes that the negotiations on transfers will continue and has assured us that this is not a matter of 'haste', since the Gernika Statute is an 'binding' organic law, which is already 45 years old.

The meeting with the Spanish Government is scheduled for Friday. The Lehendakari and Counsellor will first assess compliance with the "necessary guarantees" for the signing of the transfer. As EITB has been aware, there are "constant contacts to reach an agreement" and "progress" has been made.

The Socialist Councillor has not hesitated. The day after tomorrow the Joint Transfer Commission will meet after the agreement has been concluded in the next few hours.

The PNV president, Aitor Esteban, has warned that if Pedro Sánchez's government fails to comply with the agreement on  transfers, the PNV will change its position.  "Before, we could have discussed more and we could have been more flexible , but perhaps now it will be different," he said.

The Preliminary Draft Law on the Right to Honour and Personal Privacy shall criminalize the use and dissemination of images or voices manipulated without authorization through Artificial Intelligence, a rule promoted by the Spanish Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Youth and Children.

That is why the spokeswoman and adviser for Governance, Digital Administration and Self-Government, Maria Ubarretxena, has asked the Spanish Government to be serious and to respect the institutional agreements signed in July between the two governments, and has indicated that the Basque Government is prepared to work 'until the last moment' and to put in place the 'hours necessary' to reach an agreement.

However, the PP leader has already warned that his party will not support this possibility if the government does not provide him with specific data and explanations.

In addition to the five powers that should be exercised in the course of these weeks, the CSC has 15 other transfers recognised by the Statute of Autonomy. In order not to get lost in the confusion of competences, this is the updated list of outstanding transfers. 

Both EH Bildu and the other left-wing parliamentary groups have advanced that they will not support the measure. According to EH Bildu, wanting to "get rid of taxes" by owners who are "charging excessive rents" is "a joke."

"We will try to be optimistic, but we will not stand idly by," insisted Esteban, who stressed that if the transfers are not closed on Friday, the PNV's position on the Spanish Government "will not be the same." "The Spanish Government will immediately realize this," said the leader jeltzale.

Congressman Lander Martinez has valued "all the work" done between the two governments, which the PNV hopes to recognize. "I don't think the situation is serious enough to jeopardize a progressive coalition government, knowing what will come next," he said.

In an interview given to journalist Iñaki Guridi in the "Faktoria" programme of Euskadi Irratia , PSE-EE Secretary General Eneko Anduezahas been "very calm" about the controversy over the transfer of five competences between the Basque Government and the Spanish Government and has assured him that he has "no doubt that things will go well."

In statements to EiTB, Vice-President Ibone Bengoetxea explained that "it is a matter of political will" to conclude the agreement. If it does not exist, "we should make another reading and we would be in a different situation, politically and institutionally."

The Minister of the Interior of the Spanish Government has said that the aim of the new measure is to "save the lives" of passengers  and not to "punish or raise money" drivers , so he has reported that they will give time to adapt. 

ERC's leader, Oriol Junjarzembowski, has reported on this following his interview in Moncloa with the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez.