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Pedro Solbes - The Socialist Fall Guy?
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By h.b. - Sep 13, 2007 - 7:28 AM
The Minister for the Economy has poured cold water on three of the Socialist Party's social policies
EDITORIAL COMMENT
For the third time in as many weeks, Pedro Solbes, the Minister for Tax and the Economy, has, as El País put it yesterday, ‘poured cold water’ on items of the Government’s social program because of the cost.
First it was the 2,500 € which the Prime Minister promised for every new baby, then the promise from the Socialist Junta de Andalucía to guarantee housing to all those in the region who earn less than 3,100 € a month, and this week it has been the new Health Minister, Bernat Soria, whose announcement of free dental care for 7 to 15 year olds was similarly trounced.
He’s a funny chap that Bernat. A well respected researcher in groundbreaking techniques in stem cell research, one imagines him spending his days bent over test tubes in a laboratory, but more and more he seems to be spending his time in Congress. Poor man. He’s standing firm on his proposal, which must surely be an election winner.
How daft for Zapatero not to impose a greater control between his ministers – the Partido Popular say the Government lacks coordination, and the Government has replied that it encourages open debate and the differences are an indication of the transparency of the administration. That’s a good one, but there could be another explanation…
What do you think the chances are that Pedro Solbes is wheeling himself out as the fall guy on these proposals? In a Partido Popular dominated media, such social provisions would normally be mentioned once and then buried out of sight. Now, thanks to the Minister for the Economy, the story about free dental care for children has been on the front pages and discussed in the radio and television tertulias for days.
Surely such a thing is not possible, but then again we are just six months from a General Election, and dental check ups should be taken every six months.
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Pedro Solbes - The Socialist Fall Guy?
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By h.b. - Sep 13, 2007 - 7:28 AM
Minister for Tax and the Economy - Pedro Solbes - Photo EFE
EDITORIAL COMMENT
For the third time in as many weeks, Pedro Solbes, the Minister for Tax and the Economy, has, as El País put it yesterday, ‘poured cold water’ on items of the Government’s social program because of the cost.
First it was the 2,500 € which the Prime Minister promised for every new baby, then the promise from the Socialist Junta de Andalucía to guarantee housing to all those in the region who earn less than 3,100 € a month, and this week it has been the new Health Minister, Bernat Soria, whose announcement of free dental care for 7 to 15 year olds was similarly trounced.
He’s a funny chap that Bernat. A well respected researcher in groundbreaking techniques in stem cell research, one imagines him spending his days bent over test tubes in a laboratory, but more and more he seems to be spending his time in Congress. Poor man. He’s standing firm on his proposal, which must surely be an election winner.
How daft for Zapatero not to impose a greater control between his ministers – the Partido Popular say the Government lacks coordination, and the Government has replied that it encourages open debate and the differences are an indication of the transparency of the administration. That’s a good one, but there could be another explanation…
What do you think the chances are that Pedro Solbes is wheeling himself out as the fall guy on these proposals? In a Partido Popular dominated media, such social provisions would normally be mentioned once and then buried out of sight. Now, thanks to the Minister for the Economy, the story about free dental care for children has been on the front pages and discussed in the radio and television tertulias for days.
Surely such a thing is not possible, but then again we are just six months from a General Election, and dental check ups should be taken every six months.
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