The Council of Ministers session has concluded, after government members reached a consensus on actions aimed at mitigating the impacts of the war in Iran, according to Sumar sources speaking to EFE. The agreement involves the authorisation of two royal decrees: one covering the ‘anticrisis’ plan and another focusing on housing-related measures. The Council meeting began with more than two hours of delay, as the Sumar ministers decided not to participate due to the socialist sector’s refusal to include protective measures for tenants in the royal decree. Sources from Moncloa indicated that the meeting started at 11:40, instead of at 9:30, and that during that interval government members continued discussing the decree. The document presented by the socialist side did not contain proposals to protect tenants or actions to regulate the margins of energy companies, prompting a protest from Yolanda Díaz’s group. According to Sumar information, discussions among coalition members were still ongoing within the Council of Ministers, as they had not reached a consensus on the details of the decree, the tax reductions of which, especially those related to VAT, were also not to their liking. The set of actions aimed at mitigating the impacts of the war in the Middle East includes a reduction of VAT on fuels for vehicles, electricity, and natural gas, which will be adjusted from the standard rate of 21% to the reduced rate of 10%. According to sources, the discussion has been brought to the attention of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, as well as the second deputy and Minister of Labour, Yolanda Díaz.
The Council of Ministers concludes after agreeing on the approval of two separate royal decree laws on economic measures due to the war.
