Catalonia Today, September 28, 2006 | Controversial budget

The Estatut that came into force in August has not solved the "Catalan question". Neither has its solved Catalonia's accumulated deficit, and especially with its infrastructures. The proof of this is the political unhappiness over the announcement by Pedro Solbes, the finance minister, that €3,195 million would be spent on infrastructure next year. CiU, ERC and even ICV are not happy with this. First because budget negotiations with Spain were carried out with one eye on the election, as the Catalan Socialists have tried to make the most out of it. Secondly, because Catalan businessman had expected the budget resulting from the new Estatut to be upwards of €500 million. The announcement ha sbeen accompanied by unclear figures, and is marked by party and election interests. It coincided with a series of breakdowns on the railway system –on top of the AVE works– that showed the lack of money being spent on Renfe in Catalonia. Meanwhile, the debate over transferring management of El Prat airport to the Generalitat continues, while Catalans become outraged over the fragile railway system. And all this has taken place before Mobility Week.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 28 de setembre de 2006, pàgina 3.)