Feijóo demands "transparency" from Sánchez and summons him to clarify why he proposes a 3.5% increase for officials

He also asks if this rise is agreed with unions and within the Government itself, and if it will be extended to all workers.

MADRID, 28 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has asked the Government on Wednesday for "transparency" on the situation of public accounts and has summoned him to clarify why he proposes a salary increase of 3.5% for civil servants. Moreover, he has asked if this rise is agreed with the unions and within the PSOE and Podemos coalition Executive itself.

This has been pronounced after it has been disclosed that the Government is considering offering unions a wage increase for public employees of 3.5% for 2023, and is considering other formulas to compensate them this year for the runaway inflation, as they have indicated to Europa Press in union sources.

The newspaper 'El País' published this Wednesday that this 3.5% offer, subject to changes in the negotiations with the unions, will not have a direct application and will be conditional on compliance with a series of macroeconomic variables, such as GDP growth or the level of inflation.

Feijóo, who has participated in an informative lunch organized by the US Chamber of Commerce in Spain (AmChampain), has highlighted the fact that it has been "leaked" that the Executive proposes this salary increase to public employees, something that, in his opinion, opinion, "means that if they close the year with inflation above 8% there will be a loss of purchasing power for three million families of around 5%".

"It is essential that the Government be more transparent and give us more explanations about the situation of the Spanish public accounts, why it proposes a 3.5% increase and not another percentage, if it has been agreed with the union organizations", said the leader of the opposition.

What's more, Feijóo has summoned the Executive to clarify whether this salary increase is "agreed upon within the Government itself and if that is also a proposal for the rest of the Spanish workers." That said, he has pointed out that in March the Government spoke of closing an income pact but that they are "at the gates of October" and they still do not know what it consists of, "if there is one."

After defending his economic proposals before businessmen, such as the deflation of the income tax rate or the reduction of VAT on basic products in the shopping basket, the president of the PP has stated that he will continue to present proposals and be "responsible" because, in his opinion, "the best" they can do for Spain is "tell what is happening". "Why are you going to criticize if what you have to do is describe", he has emphasized.

PRAISE FROM THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SPAIN The president of the US Chamber of Commerce in Spain, Jaime Malet, who presented the PP leader's conference, stated that many people see Alberto Núñez Feijóo as "a point of hope" and stressed that Spain needs politicians with "management capacity", with "political waist", who "do not lie to the people" and who offer "hope".

That said, he thanked Feijóo for his attendance at this forum, assuring that he is not only presenting the head of the opposition but "the future president of Spain". The president of the PP has thanked the praise and has indicated that he did it in a personal capacity because both have known each other for a long time.