Carlos Body He is the heir to the portfolio of Economy, Commerce and Businesswhich he recently occupied Nadia Calvinowho has already packed her bags to join the president’s office at the headquarters of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Luxembourg from January 1. But receiving that position, which involves managing the economic policy of the Executive, will not lead to who until today was Secretary General of the Treasury to have the same powers as its predecessor.
In fact, Body, a person of Calviño’s utmost confidence, does not receive the witness of first vice president that occupied this and that, de facto, supposed to be the ‘number two’ of the cabinet, accumulate great power and be a substitute for the president of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, when he is not there. This position now passes into the hands of the head of the Treasury, Maria Jesus Montero, one of the chief executive’s most trusted people and also ‘number two’ of the PSOE. She will not only exercise that function but will coordinate the economic area, that is, she will ultimately be the immediate head of the Corps.
Political filter
In any case, the new head of Economy inherits in principle the presidency of the Government’s delegate commission for economic affairsthe body in which the economic policies of the Executive are discussed, although surely with a more technical profile, it is to be expected that it must first go through the political filter de Montero who in recent weeks since Calviño’s departure was confirmed, acted as ‘guardian of the essences’ of the coalition government, at least with regard to the socialist wing, since the second vice president is in charge of Sumar’s and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Diaz.
To date there was greater harmony between Montero and Díaz than between her and Calviño, but the former’s new role may change things. Montero, who has demonstrated the ability to reach agreements with Sumar by managing to agree on the decree of anti-crisis measures, is a key piece to control the Budget negotiations and negotiate with the amalgam of partners who must guarantee the Executive’s accounts. She will also lead the dialogue with the autonomies, being the president of the Fiscal and Financial Policy Council (CPFF) in the face of challenges such as the reform of territorial financing and debt forgiveness. From the doors to the outside it will be Corpus who is reserved for navigating the corridors of Brussels, which he already knows and in which he has worked with a deep expert in them such as Calviño. It represents, in turn, a message of continuity for the European Union (EU).
In Royal Decree 1231/2023, of December 29, which regulates the vice presidencies, it is established that “the First Vice Presidency of the Government is responsible for the exercise of the functions entrusted to it by the President of the Government.” The part in which he was also assigned the presidency of the delegated commission disappears from the text and, at the same time, the fourth vice-presidency, which was the one occupied by Montero until now, is eliminated.
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The Ministry of Economy had already lost this legislature the digital transformation portfolio, which has become an autonomous department at the head of which it has been placed José Luis Escriváthe previous head of Social Security and architect of the reform of the pension system. One of the possibilities is that this position will be a transitional position while waiting for the governor’s mandate to expire in June. Bank of Spain, Pablo Hernández de Cos; and Escrivá relieved him.
Meanwhile, he now also takes care of the public function, which was under the leadership of Montero, who gains political weight and management powers not only of the entire economic area but also of the Government. Escrivá’s ministry now has the Secretariats of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, the Secretariat for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, and the Secretariat for Public Function. And the Treasury, the Secretariats of State for Finance and Budgets and Expenditures.