Parliament greenlights processing budget

The government budget has moved one step closer towards being fully passed, as the Catalan parliament gave the green light to the processing of accounts on Wednesday evening thanks to the favorable votes of the two main pro-independence parties, Esquerra Republicana and Junts per Catalunya, as well as Catalunya En Comú's abstention.

Ciutadans, the Socialists, the People's Party, and far-left pro-independence CUP tabled amendments, but these were rejected by the majority of ruling parties.

The budget must now follow the usual parliamentary processes before being voted on for a final time in a plenary session that will not take place before March 18.

The proposed 2020 budget would increase spending by 3.070 billion euros and revenue by 4.174 billion euros compared to the budget currently in place, which was approved in 2017.