Basic income to come into effect in Spain in May

The Spanish government was expected to present its basic income scheme on Thursday, until second vice president Pablo Iglesias dampened expectations, saying that there will have to be "new meetings" in order to put the finishing touches to "all the details" of the plan.

The decision to introduce a basic income scheme was agreed upon by Spanish president Pedro Sánchez and Iglesias, with the heads of the two leftwing parties in the coalition government in Madrid hoping to bring the new scheme into effect in May.

On Thursday, Iglesias said the measure promised in the coalition agreement between Iglesias' Unidas Podemos and Sánchez's Socialists will be ready "as soon as possible," while the Spanish minister of inclusion, social security, and migration, José Luis Escrivá, has said it will be ready "in weeks."

On Wednesday, Escrivá explained that the Covid-19 pandemic had sped up the timings the cabinet had initially considered and that the measure was yet to be finalized as it must ensure that those who need the money the most will be the ones who receive it. 

The Spanish minister claimed that the new policy would benefit a million households throughout Spain, of which around 10% are thought to be single-parent families.