JxSí, CUP wrap up second breakaway law: Catalonia’s Treasury bill
Pro-independence groups take "the first step towards building a future Catalan Treasury" in a week marked by clash with Spain’s Constitutional Court
BarcelonaThe end of the Parliamentary term continues to be marked by an acceleration of the pro-independence process. On Wednesday the full chamber openly disobeyed the Constitutional Court (TC) and agreed to proceed with the first of three breakaway laws —that of Catalonia’s Social Protection Agency--, and on Friday JxSí and the CUP finalized their joint bill on the future law for a Catalan Treasury Administration.
María Senserrich, a representative for JxSí, noted that the text -- which the two groups want the full session to consider when the new term starts in September -- takes "the first step towards what will be the future Catalan Treasury". Senserrich stressed that this will be "the largest statehood structure".
Eulàlia Reguant, CUP representative, noted that "it was important to be able to deliver the first draft before starting the summer break", but she felt that there is still much to debate and that they will continue to work on the text in committee once the bill has been tabled for consideration before Parliament.
A Fiscal Advisory Board to advise the government
The text that the two pro-independence groups submitted this Friday defines the main organizations that will comprise the Generalitat´s Tax Administration. Thus, in addition to strengthening and giving more powers to the Catalan Tax Agency, the regulation foresees the creation of a Fiscal Advisory Board made up of experts who will advise the government on tax matters.
The bill also makes provisions for a Catalan Taxation Board, an agency that will arbitrate conflicts between the administration and the general public. In addition to these three key agencies, the law calls for the creation of an Institute for Fiscal Research and Tax Studies, which will study possible innovations in taxation.
