Far-left CUP so far reject 2022 budget but open door to negotiation

The pro-independence far-left CUP party will not back the 2022 Catalan budget so far, but have left the door open to continue negotiating until the final vote, which is expected to take place on December 23.

The anti-capitalist political force held an internal vote in which 68% of its members opted for filing a complete amendment motion to the spending plan, but at the same time, offering a margin for negotiation.

CUP MP Eulàlia Reguant said they want to "amend" the relationship the government has with Spain – the far-left group is very sceptical of the chances of success of the ongoing talks with Madrid – and the fact that, according to them, the budget continues along with the same trend as prior ones.

Reguant also criticized that the spending on social policies the bill proposes is not enough – meanwhile, the government said last week that 74.6% of the total spending will be used for social policies, with a 17.3% growth in spending, an all-time high.

The CUP party is especially opposed to projects funded in the 2022 budget such as the 2030 Winter Olympics bid.

The news has forced government coalition partners ERC and Junts per Catalunya to hold an emergency meeting in the executive headquarters. 

The Catalan government say they "lament" the decision from CUP to present a total amendment to the proposed budget and call on their pro-independence allies to "rectify" the situation and "continue talking."

For ERC and Junts, the priority is to continue working with the anti-capitalist party and maintain the "52% majority." However, the executive have not closed the door to potentially cooperating with other opposition parties, if they must. 

On November 22, the complete amendment motions will be voted on in Parliament, and they could be successful if neither of the other two left-wing opposition parties, the Socialists and En Comú Podem, abstain or reject them. Both have said the cabinet has to open negotiations with them if they want to avoid the complete amendments to succeed and the budget to be officially rejected by the chamber.

However, negotiating with parties against independence, such the Socialists and En Comú Podem, open a separate set of potential issues, as Junts per Catalunya – the junior partner in the executive – may not be willing to work with parties not explicitly in favor of Catalan independence.

If this hurdle for the executive is surpassed next Monday, either the Socialists, En Comú Podem, or CUP would have to at least abstain in the December 23 final vote.

2022 budget

The proposed 2022 Catalan budget will see record-high expenditure, with a historic increase aimed at consolidating the pandemic recovery and reactivating the economy. 

In total, public spending will rise to €38.139 billion if the bill is passed, an increase of €5.618 billion (+17.3%) on the 2020 budget.

European ‘Next Generation’ funds, aimed at stimulating the economy across the continent and aiding the recovery after the pandemic, accounts for €2.142 billion of the budget.