Podemos warns the PSOE that the mere extension of the anti-crisis decree is "insufficient" and asks for "courage" to improve it

MADRID, 6 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Podemos has warned that the mere extension of the measures of the anti-crisis decree for the war in Ukraine is "insufficient" and demands that it be improved with the measures proposed by the Ministry of Social Rights, such as applying a monthly payment of 10 euros for transport or increase non-contributory pensions by 15% immediately.

The leader of the purple formation and holder of Social Rights, Ione Belarra, has published a video on social networks in which she demands "courage" to apply her proposals, which this Monday she has transferred to the competent ministries and to the Presidency.

In this way, it urges at least to extend the aid of the economic response plan to the war in Ukraine with the extension of the measures until the end of the year and improve it, with the inclusion of this reduction in transport, the extension of the electricity social bonus and the increase in the lowest pensions, since in his opinion they are "essential".

"We are at a time when this government cannot afford half measures. We have to be brave and do everything on our part so that families do not pay the consequences of this crisis (....) It is time to govern, govern and govern" , has pointed out to demand in turn an "ambitious" tax reform for those who have the most to pay what corresponds to them.

In turn, the state co-spokesperson for Podemos, Pablo Fernández, has affirmed that simply extending the anti-crisis decree only with the already existing measures is "completely insufficient", to ask the PSOE to be "more ambitious and bold" in the measures to protect families.

In this way, he has demanded his coalition partner to keep up with them, "step on the accelerator" and live up to "the expectations" of a progressive government that must be "courageous" and not "stay halfway and hesitate".

And it is that they have transferred to the socialists that it is "essential" to adopt new measures that protect the social majority and that it is not necessary to settle for a mere extension.

In terms of Transport, Social Rights aspires to a reduction of all forms of subscription for urban and interurban public transport to 10 euros, thus emulating the German approach.

The decrease would be covered through the application of the Contingency Fund and the granting of a credit supplement in the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda for an amount of 560 million, which would finance this extraordinary item.

In turn, Belarra's proposal emphasizes the need to immediately increase non-contributory pensions and that this improvement be incorporated into the July payroll. The idea is to ensure that the lowest benefits can cope with the high rate of inflation and that their purchasing power is not reduced until the end of the year.

Specifically, it proposes to increase by 15 percent compared to 2021 the amount of retirement and disability pensions of the Social Security system, in its non-contributory modality.

Last week the Government agreed with Bildu to increase non-contributory, widowhood, orphanhood or disability pensions by 15%, and a guarantee to prevent the new public pension fund from being financed with Social Security funds, in exchange for their abstention in this norm.

As for the electricity social bonus, the coalition's minority partner plans to extend it so that it reaches two million families, streamline the access process and prevent the suspension of electricity, gas and water supply to habitual residences when non-payment is due to reasons beyond the control of their holders, such as sudden poverty or worsening of the situation of social or economic vulnerability.

To do this, it proposes the implementation of a "compulsory" communication protocol by which the supply company must inform the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of its intention to cut off the supply beforehand, which will verify income and will request a report from social services.

In the case in which the vulnerability is certified, the electricity, water and gas supply cannot be cut off.

Regarding the measures already contained in the royal decree for the economic response to the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, which was approved at the end of March, it insists on continuing with the discount on fuel, the increase of 15% in the amount of the Minimum Vital Income or the limit of the annual update of the rent of housing leases at 2%.

In addition, tomorrow his bill will be discussed in Congress to create a new tax on large fortunes and prevent the Community of Madrid, in his opinion, from continuing to behave as a "tax haven" for the ultra-rich.

Specifically, the co-spokesperson Alejandra Jacinto explained that this new tribute would be limited to less than 10,000 people with assets of more than 10 million euros and would not be discounted, in order to prevent regional governments from trying to empty its content.

At this point, he has claimed that it is a proposal for "fiscal and social justice" to end "tax gifts to the ultra-rich", as in his opinion Madrid does by forgiving taxes worth 1,000 million to "a handful of millionaires" while it cuts in Metro and closes urgency in Primary Care.