ERC opens to support the extension of the anti-crisis decree: "These are necessary measures"

Bildu, who did support the initial decree, recalls that the Government must include the rise in non-contributory pensions

MADRID, 7 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The spokesman for the Esquerra Republicana (ERC) in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, has opened the door to support the extension of the measures included in the decree law for the economic response to the war in Ukraine, considering that "they are necessary measures" and that have already spoken in favor of this extension.

However, the ERC voted against the validation in Congress of this decree law as a protest against the espionage scandal involving pro-independence leaders with the 'Pegasus' computer program. The coalition government avoided repeal by just four votes.

At a press conference in Congress, Rufián has assured that no one from the Government has contacted them to negotiate any measure nor do they know the content of the extension decree law, but he has said that, in addition to giving continuity to the measures, they consider that "some of these aids should be extended", without specifying more.

The possible support of the ERC for a future decree law to extend the economic response plan to the crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine would widen the favorable margin of the Government for its vote, since several of the formations that backed the decree law at the time have pronounced favorably to a new extension.

In the case of the PDeCAT, its spokesman, Ferrán Bel, has defended as "reasonable" that some of the approved measures be extended, and in this decree law he hopes that the Government fulfills its commitments acquired with its formation, such as the expansion to more sectors of aid to the gas-intensive industry.

Mertxe Aizpurua, from EH-Bildu, has recalled that her formation has already supported this decree law despite also being affected by the espionage scandal, and has assured that she has confirmation that the Government will include in the decree law the rise of 15 % of non-contributory pensions, agreed with them.

The deputy for Compromís, Joan Baldoví, has asked for his part to be more selective when granting aid such as discounts on fuel at gas stations: "Coffee for everyone seems unfair to me. I think selective mechanisms should be sought , because a person who earns a minimum wage is not the same as another who earns a good salary," he said.

Precisely with regard to the 20-cent discount on diesel and gasoline refueling, the deputy for Más País, Íñigo Errejón, has asked "to be much more demanding" with the companies and the setting of prices: "Give more aid without intervening and marking a price control is to make a 'bizum' to the oil companies", he asserted, pointing out that the subsidy has caused prices to increase in many refueling centers, thus eating up the aid.

Errejón has also called for an intervention in rental prices, calling on the Government to accelerate and expand rent control to put a stop to a market that he sees as "a black hole that eats up a good part of family income."