The differences between the PSOE and Sumar about the need to undertake a major tax reform They are not new. But now, these differences have materialized in a clash in the Congress of Deputies that could force a division in the vote of the Government’s partners that would open a significant gap between the two.
This Wednesday it was learned that the socialists have agreed with Junts drop the tax on big energy companieswhich expires December 31; In addition, they have also agreed with the Catalan party and the PNV to convert the banking tax into a progressive tax (depending on the size of each entity), which takes into account the evolution of interest rates and the accounts of the entities. when setting the rate, and that it be agreed with Euskadi and Navarra.
These pacts of the PSOE with the PNV and Junts (which have occurred within the framework of the processing of a norm to implement a minimum effective rate of 15% in Companies for large multinationals, a mandate from the European Union) represent a missile in the waterline of the negotiations that the PSOE and Sumar maintain around the Budgets.
The first leg of this negotiation is the fiscal one, since it is the forecast of the collection that ultimately makes it possible to foresee the financing of the social policies that want to be deployed. Sumar advocates make these two taxes permanentwhich currently have the category of special and temporary (since they were designed to address a specific context of economic crisis).
In fact, not only is it a request from Sumar, but the Government agreement signed between Pedro Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz contemplates that they become permanent. The agreement of the socialists with Junts and the PNV has caused a significant discomfort in Sumar.
Sumar warns that he will keep his amendments alive
Sources from the coalition of alternative left parties warn that they will oppose any agreement that drops either of these two taxes. Furthermore, they warn that will keep their registered amendments alive in the Plenary so that all groups take a position on this issue and the tax reform that, in their opinion, the country needs.
The withdrawal of the tax on energy companies could mean a significant decrease in income, since in two years this tax collected around 1.2 billion euros. “This is outside the Government agreement and goes in the opposite direction of the tax reform,” Sumar sources say.
“The energy lobbies are operating at full capacity, and As a Government we cannot accept blackmail“, warn these same voices.
Sumar: “The energy lobbies are operating at full capacity”
Those from Díaz not only oppose dropping the tax on energy companies “at a time when the return of fiscal rules and other situations make it necessary for us to enter an additional 10,000 million,” but they also view with distrust the modification of the banking tax.
Specifically, in Sumar they warn of the “legal uncertainty” involved in converting the tax (which currently has a finalist nature) into an ordinary tax, since, they remember, when it was designed it was done thinking of preventing the Constitutional Court will strike him down for double taxation (since the Corporate Tax already taxes, in theory, the profits of the sector).
Furthermore, with the aim of trying to prevent the TC from overthrowing him for double taxation, the agreed amendments include a 25% bonus on Corporate Taxwhich would lower the collection of this tax. “Why 25% and not 15% or 30%? Where does it come from? It is very weak, and there is a good chance that the Constitutional Court will annul it due to double taxation,” they explain from Sumar.
Those from Díaz insist on the importance of undertaking a major fiscal reform at this time that will allow the deployment of an ambitious Budget. “With this fiscal plan proposed by the PSOE we do not have enough resources“, they say.
The rejection of Podemos
From Can They have also advanced their firm opposition to this reform that will drop the tax on energy companies. This tax, in the opinion of the purples, should become permanent and “its withdrawal would mean a covert and regressive tax reform for our country.”
We can: “These benefits come exclusively from the families’ pockets”
“The big energy companies obtained in 2022, when the invasion of Ukraine began, a huge windfall derived from the increase in energy prices caused by the war. This growth has not been temporary, since some companies such as Naturgy or Iberdrola increased their profits in 2023, with increases bordering on 20% and 10%, with the distribution of dividends being the general rule in the sector”, explain the by Ione Belarra.
Therefore, they explain in the purple formation, These benefits “come exclusively from the families’ pockets.” of our country, who confront the abusive energy prices established by companies. “It is imperative that those benefits that monopolize year after year return to society through a structural tax,” they say.
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