Irene Montero maintains her rejection of increasing defense spending: "All efforts must go to protecting families"

Remember that the CPI data for August "continues to be enormously worrying" for citizens

MADRID, 30 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, has underlined this Tuesday the rejection of United We Can to increase defense spending to fulfill the commitment to NATO of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, assuring that "all efforts" must go to protect families and workers, especially the most vulnerable women.

"The objective of Podemos in the negotiation of these General State Budgets is going to be very clear: all the efforts to invest in health and education, and in the protection of families and workers," he said in statements to RNE collected by Europe Press.

Montero has positioned himself in this way after the exchange of statements between the third vice president and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, and the spokesperson for the PSOE and Minister of Education, Pilar Alegría. The Podemos sector and the Socialists disagree on whether the spending ceiling contemplates complying with the increase in investment in military spending.

"We are very clear. All efforts must be dedicated to the families," Montero pointed out, adding that she does not know "who wins with this war," the one in Ukraine. "I think only the arms industry," she pointed out before asking that all diplomatic efforts be directed at a solution that would go through "a lasting peace agreement."

Regarding the slight decrease in the CPI in August to 10.4%, Montero has maintained that "it continues to be an enormously worrying figure for families." "That is why I believe that the coalition government has to continue to show that we are on the side of the families," she indicated, referring explicitly to the debate on Budgets and citing her party colleague and minister, Ione Belarra.

The minister also welcomed the fact that Brussels opted to intervene in the energy market in the face of price escalation due to the war started by Vladimir Putin. In this sense, she has recalled that "sometimes it is very tiring to fight for these achievements", as in her opinion, Podemos has been doing it for a long time, understanding that a "deep reform of the electricity market" was long ago needed.

"They called us Bolivarians for intervening in the market and that the free market worked," he continued, stressing that now "it turns out not."

Montero has also slipped criticism of the employers for the negotiation on the rent pact and the rise in the minimum interprofessional salary. "I am not surprised by the role of large employers. This government is making every effort to protect purchasing power and rights," he said, pointing to the "financial vultures" who speculate in matters such as housing.

In this sense, he recalled that the mobilizations of unions and social groups are part of the "democratic conquests" and are "key to democracy." "It's the best this country has," she said about the social mobilizations when asked if she foresees a hot fall.