Illa: "We must put a stop to this unfair competition and Madrid's tax dumping."

The President of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), Salvador Illa, defended the principle of ordinality in financing and accused the Community of Madrid of promoting a model of unsupportive accumulation of resources: "We must put a stop to this unfair competition and tax dumping in Madrid."

"They accumulate, they generate a lot of prosperity, and instead of sharing it, what they do is accumulate without solidarity. And how? With tax cuts, which alter competition" between territories, and then the capital effect that favors them, he said in an interview with the newspaper 'Ara'.

"I want there to be a basic minimum standard to prevent us from harming ourselves," and he has called it cheating to lower taxes for those with the most wealth while simultaneously cutting public policies, instead proposing a model of shared prosperity, paying taxes in proportion to each person's wealth and assets.

He has denied that Finance Minister María Jesús Montero is a funding problem because she is the candidate for the Andalusian Regional Government: he believes that "she is the solution" and that she is taking it very seriously.

Regarding the timeline for new funding , he said he will move as quickly as possible, but not at the expense of rigor and security. He argued that during his year as president, "more progress has been made in regional funding than in recent years."

Illa affirmed that he is fulfilling the investiture agreement with the ERC and his commitment to financing: "We will do it, and we will do it well."

Regarding the investiture agreement stipulating that personal income tax would be collected starting in 2026, but it will be collected in 2028, he responded that "we can't play around with this issue or do it hastily and it won't turn out well."

"To do this with solvency and rigor, and in accordance with the studies we have conducted and the reality we have encountered, this is the way forward," he asserted.

When asked if he signed the investiture agreement without knowing the reality of the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC), he denied it and insisted on being swift but "without sacrificing solvency" in ensuring that the Generalitat manages all taxes.

For him, "it's an option" that this transfer would involve state Tax Agency employees moving to the ATC, but he has assured that, whatever the outcome, everyone's working conditions and rights will be respected.

Furthermore, he considered it common sense to "offer those who want to join them the opportunity to do so ," referring to moving from the state agency to the Catalan one.

Assessing his year in office, he said that Catalonia "has gotten back on track" and reiterated his goal of leading Spain economically , which includes surpassing Madrid in terms of GDP.

Regarding the 15% linear US tariffs accepted by the EU, he accepts the agreement without "too much enthusiasm" and with the consolation that it eliminates uncertainty.

The president said that complying with the amnesty law is "the first priority" currently for the integration of Catalonia with the rest of Spain, and he hoped that this would begin the next political year.

He has included his predecessor and leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, in that wish, although he does not clarify whether they have spoken or whether he will see him before Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez does: "When I meet, if I meet, I will make it known."

Illa hopes Sánchez will complete his term , defends his ability to govern even without a budget, and notes that "many of those now tearing their clothes have already done so."

He believes that Sánchez's government is the one that best serves Catalonia and all of Spain , and he doesn't see the PP leader as a successor: "Feijóo will not make it to Moncloa."