The president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), Antonio Garamendi, has considered this Wednesday that it is "incredible" that Spain is going through three consecutive years without approved General State Budgets (PGE), and has pointed out that, if new accounts are not managed to be passed, Parliament should assume its responsibility and study "measures" such as calling elections or presenting a motion.
"We have been without them for three years and this is incredible," Garamendi stressed, giving the example that, "in a company, if it does not present its budgets, the manager in charge knows they are out."
The CEOE leader has defended that "there are means" to prepare and process the PGE and has underlined that, if the Government misses the opportunity again, "there is a Parliament that has responsibilities, that has to take measures, which could be elections, a vote of no confidence, a vote of confidence, etc. I think we should not be without Budgets," he insists.
These statements were made during his participation in the seminar organized this week in Santander by the Association of Journalists of Economic Information (APIE) and the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP).
Defense spending and alignment with Europe
In his speech, Garamendi also lamented that "Spain in many cases is not up to what it should have been" and has asked for the country to coordinate better with its European partners on defense spending. He recalled that Spain has opted for an investment path of 2% of GDP, compared to the 5% target that is being discussed within NATO, although he pointed out that in practice no European country is yet reaching that level and that it is "a matter of time".
"From the point of view of our European partners, it has not been very well received," he warned. "I am not saying that we are going to invest 5% tomorrow," but rather that "we go in order with our European partners," he clarified.
Absenteeism, energy, pensions and migration
On another note, he indicated that one of the main headaches for companies is absenteeism and acknowledged that he does not understand "very well that in Spain the closure" of nuclear power plants is being considered without any problem, in a context where security of supply and the cost of energy are key to competitiveness.
Likewise, he has asked for caution so that "a peak inflation does not influence the amount of pensions for life", and has valued the regularization of migrants as "logical" and "fair", although he has censured that it has not been agreed upon, particularly with the Popular Party.
"We have that imperative need to fill those vacancies in Spain and I believe that we have to be an open country, that grows and that has to make space for people to come," he declared.