The general secretary of the parliamentary group of the PSE-EE, Ekain Rico, has shown his alignment with the Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, by sharing the "positive balance" that he has made regarding the situation in Euskadi and the management of the Basque Government, and has defended the need to continue "advancing" with "expansive" Budgets.
Rico made these statements in the Basque Chamber, after Pradales' intervention in the Plenary of General Policy. The socialist spokesperson explained that this session serves to evaluate the already covered stretch of the legislature, once "the midpoint has already passed" and, therefore, he understands that it is possible to analyze both the degree of compliance with the policies included in the government agreement and those that "need to be proposed with improvements."
The leader of the PSE-EE pointed out that stability is "a political value in itself," although he noted that, in reality, no one will remember if an Executive "was stable or not." In his opinion, governments are remembered and evaluated by whether they have fulfilled their commitments, whether they have contributed to improving the lives of citizens, whether they have cut public services or whether they leave "a better and more prosperous Euskadi."
Economic data and employment in Euskadi
In this line, he emphasized that "the data is there" and that, despite the context of international uncertainty, the Basque economy "shows a positive evolution and also with near-term growth prospects."
He also stressed that the labor market is at "historic indices," which allows "to have solid income to continue strengthening public services and social investment."
Rico attributed this situation in Euskadi to the policies included in the government agreement, but also "due to the confluence with the progressive policies of the government of President Pedro Sánchez."
He emphasized that Euskadi "is not an island" and that its economic and employment reality "cannot be understood without the economic and employment situation in Spain, which is depicted as a leader in growth in Europe." "And that is why we should not oppose the Basque government and the government of Spain when together it is evident that we are stronger. Moreover, the Basque citizens know that with the government policies of Pedro Sánchez, Euskadi is doing better," he emphasized.
Expansive budgets and social policies
Ekain Rico, who has claimed that socialists are a guarantee in the promotion of social policies, has recalled that these premises inspired the coalition agreement and has highlighted that they fit with the "positive balance" that they have heard from the Lehendakari in his intervention.
He has indicated that they feel especially satisfied with the "solid foundations" established in the areas under socialist responsibility in the Executive, such as employment, housing, or mobility, which "have focused a large part of the discourse".
Rico believes that it is now time to continue advancing with "expansive" budgets, as requested by the general secretary of the PSE-EE, Eneko Andueza, with the aim of "improving people's lives, strengthening public services, and addressing the corrections in matters that need to be improved".