Socialist MP Julio Torrado has expressed strong criticism of the Galician government's 2027 budget, arguing that it fails to address the economic realities of a region that is lagging behind the national average in growth. He described the economic-financial report as 'linguistic tightrope walking', which claims that Galicia is in a phase of moderation.
Torrado questioned the effectiveness of the energy company promoted by President Rueda, which was supposed to lower electricity costs for all Galicians but has only succeeded in reducing bills in three municipalities. 'There are effective strategies and ineffective ones. You have none, and yet you still make mistakes,' he summarised during a parliamentary committee session.
The MP lamented the 'self-satisfied reality' of the Popular Party (PP) government, contrasting it with the more complex current situation. He challenged the positive interpretation by the PP of the region's economic growth, noting that it is still below that of the rest of Spain. 'They say we are converging, but we never arrive,' he remarked, highlighting that Galicia is among the slowest-growing regions.
Torrado pointed out that any relative improvement is merely a result of riding the wave of national growth, stating, 'We do not have our own momentum.' He also took issue with the economic-financial report's assertion of being in a phase of moderation, labelling it as 'linguistic tightrope walking'. He noted that employment figures reflect similar trends.
He warned of the lack of 'planning, direction, and form' within the Xunta, inviting citizens to question what the Galician government's economic strategy is, suggesting it would be 'very difficult to explain' as there is no clear vision for growth. He questioned whether the economic model is limited to promoting the Xacobeo pilgrimage year while neglecting other areas.
Torrado provided examples of where the Xunta's policies are failing, indicating that, based on the upcoming budget, these failures are likely to continue. 'In green energy, we should be world leaders due to our capabilities, yet other regions are surpassing us. In new technologies, professional timing, and knowledge, we are lagging behind, with our industrial production index at 0.2% in August, while Spain's was above 2%,' he detailed.
He further commented on the economic policies, stating, 'There is neither here nor there.' In mining, he noted inconsistencies in the government's approach, questioning Galicia's position in ten years. He also highlighted the poor management of industrial land, stating that many municipalities have companies wanting to set up operations while there remains a significant amount of vacant industrial land.
Torrado dedicated part of his speech to demanding explanations regarding the 'history' of the Impulsa Galicia society. He asked the conselleira about the public energy company, expressing frustration over the lack of communication regarding pricing. 'I don't know if Rueda is going to call me. I receive calls from many energy companies, but not from that one,' he said, criticising that, despite numerous announcements, the initiative only reduces electricity bills in three municipalities.
He concluded by discussing the Altri project, which the Spanish government opposed but the Xunta supported, asking the conselleira, 'Is it a dead project, yes or no?' without receiving a clear answer. Ultimately, he emphasised that the Xunta's lack of an industrial model results in 'an enormous list of plans and strategies, a lot of PowerPoint presentations, and very little reality.'
