The State investments in Catalonia -always less than 16% or 19% of the total, their percentage of population or GDP- are an eternal focus of resentment between Catalonia (civil society and parties) and the Government of Madrid.
It seemed that now -with the Government of Sánchez and some Budgets voted by ERC- things would change. And in theory it was. The regionalizable investment in Catalonia from the 2021 Budgets amounted to 2,068 million, higher than that of Andalusia, the most populous community, and that of Madrid. But the figures of the General Intervention of the State (Ministry of Finance) have been a jug of ice water. Of the 2,068 million planned, only 739 have been executed, 35.8%, while the average execution in all of Spain has been 67.1%. And in Madrid it has reached 184%! Does Pedro Sánchez bet on Isabel Ayuso?
That Catalonia is the third community in investment, only behind Madrid and Andalusia, is not even a sad consolation. The ‘conseller’ James Giro, perhaps the most pragmatic voice of the rebellious JxCat, has said that these figures justify the State itself. Perhaps, but the independence movement promised it for 2017, so the breach is not minor. Now, the ANC -not the Government- promises it for 2025. For its part, Patricia Plajaspokesman for the Government, has said that what the figures show is the contempt of the Government of Spain for the Catalans.
And Patrícia Plaja will be right if the Government of Sánchez “does not know, does not answer & rdquor ;. The commitments must be fulfilled and if this is not the case, a detailed and public account of the reasons must be given.. From the investment ministries in Madrid, or from the Government delegation in Catalonia, one of whose priority occupations should be to monitor and communicate these investments.
The government must explain. For many Catalans – nationalists or non-nationalists – this is an issue as vital or more vital than the listening to the CNI. And without explanation, the grievance between relevant sectors of Catalonia -not only politicians- and the Government of Spain will continue to poison everything. Not towards independence, to which a recent survey says that 71% of Catalans do not see any priority, but towards the rugged swamp of eternal controversy and sterilizing inaction.
But there are things to remember. The investments of the state companies are not closed figures but projects that, for various reasons, may not be carried out. The investment execution of the same Catalan railways, controlled by the Generalitat, has been less than 50%. And other times the programmed investments are delayed -or paralyzed- due to the strong opposition of population groups. This is not the case, but the heavy investments to expand the airport of Barcelona they will not be carried out due to the opposition of the mayor Colau and the ‘president’ Aragonès.
Related news
And there is more. Renfe has commissioned Alstom at its Santa Perpètua plant -which drives many auxiliary companies- trains worth 1,500 million euros. But they cannot be regionalized in Catalonia because they will circulate in other parts of Spain. The grotesque thing is that it seems that Renfe has not been able to fulfill the investment of almost 300 million for the Catalan commuter lines because the Generalitat does not make the official request and then Renfe cannot be financed in the European Investment Bank.
State and Generalitat disagree on the future of Renfe in Catalonia. They discuss the jurisdiction and meanwhile the Catalans are left without the egg (the trains). Voucher?