The Government of Spain has begun to draw up the General State Budget for 2024

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

In her first speech as spokesperson for the Executive, Pilar Alegría expressed the Government's determination to continue implementing its "agenda of stability, progress and coexistence" to improve the lives of all Spaniards. "A very ambitious agenda that will be deployed by a government made up of men and women with an impressive track record in management," she added.

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports stressed that it includes measures such as moving towards full employment, improving workers' purchasing power, consolidating the welfare state and continuing to make progress on improving access to housing.

Alegría recalled that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has already stated these challenges in his investiture speech, and there is "not a minute to lose" in tackling them: "This Government is eager to get down to work right away, because the people need it and we want to fulfil the agenda we have set out".

Starting point for the general budget

The Fourth Vice-President and Minister for Treasury and Public Function, María Jesús Montero, informed the Council of Ministers of the Ministerial Order laying down the rules for the preparation of the General State Budget for 2024. The Order, which is expected to be published tomorrow in the Official State Gazette (BOE), is the formal starting point for the preparation of next year's public accounts.

The Government Spokesperson and Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Pilar Alegría, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports highlighted the fact that this issue was addressed at the very first Cabinet meeting of the 15th Legislature. The will of the Executive, the minister added, is clear so that the budget process can be completed "as soon as possible". Pilar Alegría pointed out that during the previous legislature, the coalition Government managed to approve the various public accounts projects "in time and form", working on the basis of agreement and dialogue.

Consolidating growth and social rights

The central objective of the General Budget for 2024 will be to consolidate economic growth, continue to make progress in the reindustrialisation of the country, improve the quality of jobs and consolidate the rights achieved in the previous legislature.

"The General State Budget makes it possible to respond to people's problems, to provide solutions. It allows us to continue approving and improving grants for our country's young people, to continue revaluing pensions for our country's elderly and to continue implementing ambitious housing policies", said Pilar Alegría.

The spokesperson of the Executive highlighted the approval recently given by the European Commission to the Budget Plan for 2024, which the acting Executive sent in October, adding that it "gives a positive sense to the work we have been doing to reduce the debt and the deficit". The minister also stressed that Spain's risk premium is currently below 100 basis points.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The Council of Ministers has approved an institutional declaration on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women, which will be celebrated on 25 November.

Group photo of the new Government of Spain on the steps of the Council of Ministers building | Pool Moncloa / Fernando Calvo

The Government of Spain has once again expressed its absolute rejection of all forms of male violence, a structural violence that is the cruelest expression of discrimination, inequality and power relations between men and women.

Pilar Alegría reiterated the Executive's firm determination to achieve a more egalitarian society free of violence against women. In this context, she sent out a message of recognition and tribute to all women and children who are victims of this type of violence.

Bicentenary of the creation of the Council of Ministers

The Government also approved an institutional declaration on the occasion of the commemoration of the bicentenary of the creation of the Council of Ministers, by means of a Royal Decree issued by King Ferdinand VII on 19 November 1823.

Pilar Alegría pointed out that the first meeting recorded in the minutes took place in January 1824.

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