Spain's new austerity plan will save 56bn euros: government

Spain's new austerity plan will claw back 56 billion euros ($69 billion) for the state between now and 2014, according to figures published Saturday by the economy ministry.

That figure excluded the effects of a planned energy and environment tax, said the document, which was published on the ministry website.

"The estimated impact of these measures is approximately 13.5 billion euros in the remainder of 2012, 22.9 billion euros in 2013, and 20 billion euros in 2014," the English-language document said.

That total of 56.4 billion euros set out in the document still leaves a shortfall of some 8.6 billion euros if the government is to make the 65 billion euros in cuts required by the European Union.

Recent press reports have suggested that this sum will come, at least in part, from a sharp rise in electricity bills for industry and households.

Saturday's ministry statement said only: "This calculation excludes the valuation of the impact of further measures, including energy and environmental taxation, which will be announced at a later date."

This week Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy -- obliged by the European Union to order new cuts and tax increases to meet deficit-cutting commitments -- revealed Spain's new 65-billion-euro austerity package.

The measures included a sales tax rise, lower jobless benefits, and public sector pay cuts. The government approved the package on Friday, and that evening thousands of people protested on the streets of Madrid.

In July, Spain is to become the fourth eurozone country, after Greece, Ireland and Portugal, to get bailout funds when it receives the first tranche of a 100-billion-euro kitty for its banking sector.

Eurozone finance ministers agreed this week to release a payout of 30 billion euros by the end of the month, and 45 billion euros in mid-November.

But in an interview published Saturday, Germany's central bank chief suggested Spain would need more than the bailout for its ailing banks.

European help for Spain should target the entire economy and not just the banking sector, Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann told the Boersen Zeitung.

"The banks' balance sheets are a reflection of the overall economy," he was quoted as saying by the financial newspaper.

Spain's own figures, including a record 24.4 percent unemployment in the first quarter, showed Spain still had major issues to resolve, he argued.

Loading...
  • PUB video teaches Singaporeans how to shower Mon, May 20, 2013

    It's been busy at work, it's been busy at school, your body is sticky and needs water to cool, a five-minute shower is all you need, so let's all dance to a shower beat... YEAH! And so goes the More »

  • Best and worst sugar substitutes Fri, May 17, 2013

    Sugar has earned a bad reputation for being bad for your heart, your brain and your waistline. Because of this, there have been many attempts to market sugar substitutes. Some are useful, but some More »

  • Why go through a preventive double mastectomy? Fri, May 17, 2013

    Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie announced she has had both her breasts removed in February to reduce her high genetic risk of breast cancer. The surgery, called double mastectomy, brought down her More »

Featured Blogs

  • It's been busy at work, it's been busy at school, your body is sticky and needs water to cool, a five-minute shower is all you need, so let's all dance to a shower beat... YEAH! And so goes the Public … Continue reading →

  • Sugar has earned a bad reputation for being bad for your heart, your brain and your waistline. Because of this, there have been many attempts to market sugar substitutes. Some are useful, but some are even worse than the original … Continue reading →

  • Health Xchange

    Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie announced she has had both her breasts removed in February to reduce her high genetic risk of breast cancer. The surgery, called double mastectomy, brought down her risk from 87 per cent to about 5 per … Continue reading →

  • For a taxi driver, a key survival skill is knowing where to find customers. As far as possible, a driver should know the routes at his or her fingertips. Hence, in this 6th instalment of Taxi Talks, I would like … Continue reading →

  • For three decades he smiled and waved at Singaporeans from his spot on billboards, posters and brochures. He was dedicated to his task of making Singapore a kinder, more courteous place for everyone to live in, regardless of whether he … Continue reading →