Azcón's main lines: investigating the 'boom' of renewables and a tax revolution

The new president of Aragon does not want to let a minute go by to recover the business attraction and economic growth that he promoted for the city from the Zaragoza City Council. Jorge Azcón, without making an amendment to the entire management of the socialist Javier Lambán, is already working on a tax revolution to multiply the effect called on the region. The popular leader, who took office this Friday, detailed in his proposal that he intends to “correct errors” of the previous government, such as the deterioration of public services and tax pressure. In addition, it provides for an audit of the renewable energy boom in the territory.

Azcón has already announced a fiscal plan based on different variables: the exodus of companies from Catalonia, the strengths of Aragón as a logistics hub and the fiscal pressure that the region supports compared to the rest of the country.. In his first announcement, he assured that the first decision he would make would be to deflate personal income tax to favor the 15,000 low-income Aragonese who do not have to pay rent, due to the inflation situation.. But it will not only take this measure in economic matters.

Over the next four years, he wants to propose a tax revolution with large tax cuts, the reduction to the legal minimum of the Inheritance and Donations tax and the elevation of the exempt minimum in Patrimony to 700,000 euros.. In this sense, the example in which we want to reflect is Andalusia, after the first months of Juanma Moreno as president. The tax reduction will also be aimed at Aragonese companies, with special attention to SMEs and the self-employed. Another of its great measures is a differentiated taxation in Empty Spain to make it competitive.

The 'boom' of renewables

Jorge Azcón, in turn, proposes a radical change in the model regarding the unbridled expansion of the renewable energy sector that Aragon has been leading for years. The new Executive considers that there are “irregularities” denounced by officials of the competent bodies, who warn of alleged anomalies in the management of the outgoing government of Javier Lambán. To do this, it will propose a commission of investigation on the implementation of renewables in recent years and the formal relationship that companies in the sector have, such as the Aragonese company Forestalia, with Aragonese public entities that endorse the projects or the pertinent environmental declarations, especially within INAGA.

In this matter, Azcón pointed out without nuance: “Whoever falls falls”. The Aragonese president wants to apply several audits to Lambán's management to find out the real state of public accounts and political management in crucial matters. Along with this, the new Executive will make full use of it to simplify the regional administration. “We must simplify the ordinary functioning of the Government and the organizations that depend on it as much as possible,” Azcón said at his inauguration.

Another of the issues where the popular leader has spread the most is the role that Aragon should have in national politics. During his inauguration, with a speech at the Aljafería palace, Azcón reaffirmed his idea of having an “ambitious outlook” to launch “big projects”. In relation to this, he considers that the region should be more relevant in national decisions and even more zealously due to the current political situation. Azcón calls from Aragon to “firmly” defend the Statute of Autonomy and the Constitution against projects that seek to use Aragon “as a target to crack the common project” and “undo” the nation.

A center-right government

After taking office in the Cortes de Aragón, this Friday, Azcón already knows his office in the Pignatelli Building, headquarters of the General Deputation of Aragón, and there he has signed the decrees of appointments of the new regional Executive. In total, 10 councilors: eight from the Popular Party and two from Vox. The agreement signed with the formation of Santiago Abascal includes 80 programmatic points and Alejandro Nolasco, leader of the ultra-conservative party in the territory, as first vice president and head of the Rural Development, Depopulation and Justice portfolio. Vox will also assume Agriculture, Livestock and Food with Ángel Samper at the helm, former general secretary of the majority agricultural union Asaja.

According to the environment of President Azcón, the configuration of the autonomous government has “an eminently political aspect and with the DNA of the PP”. This claim has been defended by the popular leader during the selection of the executive directors and intermediate positions, always with the idea that they are management profiles and where Vox remains de-ideologized and with little room for “political anger”. For this reason, Nolasco's role will be related to Empty Spain and not to any sensitive portfolio, such as Education, Culture or Industry.. Nor in matters of sexist violence.

Samper was proposed by Vox, but has the clear approval of the PP. “He is not a Vox militant nor will he dedicate himself to maintaining an ideological discourse in Agriculture and Livestock. He is one of those who best knows the reality of the sector in Aragon and has been a crucial signing to close the government”, detail sources from the Aragonese Executive. Azcón included another government agreement with the Aragonese Party (PAR), a former partner of Javier Lambán and of a conservative nature.. With this agreement, Azcón wants to sell the story that it is a center-right government, but with a broad spectrum, from Aragonese positions to the claims of Vox.

The PP will have the second vice president of Economy, Employment and Industry, who will manage Mar Vaquero. In the Presidency, Interior and Culture area, there will be Tomasa Hernández; while Treasury and Public Administration will fall to Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, former Secretary of State and plotter of article 155 in Catalonia. At the helm of Development, Housing, Mobility and Logistics will be Octavio López, and the former mayor of Teruel, Manuel Blasco, will complete the new government, who will direct the Environment and Tourism; Claudia Pérez, in Education, Science and Universities; José Luis Bancalero, in Health; and Carmen Susín as head of Social Welfare and Family.