The First Vice President and Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, will face this Tuesday his first control session in the Senate since he assumed the new responsibility of 'number two' of the Government, in a debut marked by a direct question from the Popular Group formulated by its spokesperson in the Upper House, Alicia García.
As stated on the agenda, the 'popular' leader will question Cuerpo about what functions and powers he will assume from now on within the framework of his recent appointment as first vice-president of Pedro Sánchez's Executive.
Furthermore, EH Bildu senator Idurre Bideguren will address a question to him/her regarding what are the "greatest" challenges he/she faces in the position within what her/his party describes as a situation of political and economic "instability".
Focused on economic challenges
In the strictly economic sphere, PP senator Carlos Alfonso Polanco will ask the minister if he considers that "the economy is doing well when families lose purchasing power and have difficulties facing the enormous increase experienced in the shopping basket."
For its part, the Confederal Left Parliamentary Group will ask Cuerpo about the measures his department is handling to alleviate the effects of the current fuel price crisis in the Canary Islands, taking into account the insular condition of the archipelago and its specific tax regime.
Latest changes in the Sánchez Government
Last March 26, Sánchez appointed Cuerpo as new first vice-president and named as Minister of Finance the then Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi España, both replacing María Jesús Montero. For España, however, no question appears in this Tuesday's Plenary.
In a brief institutional statement from Moncloa, the President of the Government announced these latest reshuffles in his cabinet, motivated by the departure of his until now 'number two', who will be the PSOE candidate in the Andalusian elections on May 17.
Upon formalizing Cuerpo's promotion to the First Vice-Presidency, Sánchez defined him as "one of the most brilliant economists and public servants" of the country and highlighted his career as a State economist.
"He is a professional with extensive experience who has served in various European bodies such as the European Commission, AIReF and also the General Secretariat of the Treasury," he stressed. In his opinion, he is doing an "exceptional" job at the head of Economy and showed himself "convinced" that "he will be a fantastic first vice-president of Economy."
With this appointment, the president recognizes the main person responsible for Spanish economic policy, who has managed to maintain sustained growth in recent years despite successive crises, placing the country above the European average.
Sánchez also stressed that he trusts that Cuerpo and Spain will contribute to Spain continuing "on the path of transformation and fiscal responsibility and prosperity". "Experience, integrity, technical solvency and coherence, this is the profile of this Government," he claimed.