Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government unveiled its spending plans for next year in September, forecasting a public deficit reaching 2.5 percent of annual economic output.
But the text has been on the backburner as the fragile coalition grapples with fiendishly difficult parliamentary arithmetic.
Several Spanish governments have failed to pass their budgets since the European country returned to democracy after the 1975 death of right-wing dictator Francisco Franco, including last year.
They can avoid paralysis thanks to a constitutional mechanism that extends spending limits from the previous budget but constrains action to small adjustments.
"No one would understand" why Spain would settle for tinkering after its worst floods in decades, Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero said in Sunday's El Pais daily.
The torrents of muddy water have killed 222 people, wrecked infrastructure, destroyed businesses and submerged fields, with the final bill expected to soar to tens of billions of euros.
The government has already announced economic recovery measures collectively worth more than 14 billion euros, but they will affect Spain's budgetary outlook and require major adjustments.
The government insists fresh public accounts for 2025 can accelerate the desperately needed aid. "To rebuild, a budget is necessary... the emergency requires it," Montero said.
- Aid 'cannot wait' -
Montero urged "unity" from Spain's polarised political class, but the main opposition conservative party swiftly dashed any hopes the catastrophe would lay the ground for a new budget.
The flood victims "must not be used as bargaining chips in the budget negotiations", the Popular Party said in a statement, condemning Sanchez's "blackmail".
Consultancy firm Teneo suggested the government could use the "extraordinary circumstances" to convince potential allies to "moderate their stances" but warned it would be difficult after the floods became politicised.
Junts per Catalunya, a Catalan separatist party whose support is essential for government proposals to pass, expressed doubts about the budget if it is linked to flood recovery spending.
Releasing the aid "cannot wait for the long scrutiny of a theoretical budget" and amendments to the current one can instead be adopted, Junts said.
The government's "political use" of the tragedy is "unacceptable" because it can already request EU funds and approve emergency loans and grants without a budget, business daily El Economista said.
Spain royals to return to flood epicentre after chaotic visit
Betera (AFP) Nov 12, 2024 -
Spain's King Felipe VI said Tuesday he and his wife Queen Letizia will next week return to the epicentre of the country's catastrophic floods, where survivors heckled and hurled mud at them during their last visit.
"We do not yet have the date or the itinerary, but yes it will take place," the king told reporters during a visit to Betera in the eastern Valencia region where he met with soldiers taking part in the relief work following the October 29 disaster.
"From the outset, we wanted to show our willingness to be present in various ways in all the places affected," added Felipe, dressed in military fatigues.
Palace sources had told AFP earlier on Tuesday that the royal couple will travel "early next week" to the Valencia region, which has suffered almost all the destruction and 222 deaths.
Furious residents chanting "murderers" in the ruined Valencia region town of Paiporta pelted the couple and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with projectiles and mud on November 3.
While Sanchez and the Valencia region's leader Carlos Mazon were swiftly escorted away, the royals braved the chaos to speak with flood victims.
They have promised to travel to the town of Chiva where their planned visit on the same day was cancelled.
The unrest in Paiporta expressed widespread anger at political leaders for their perceived failure to adequately prepare for and respond to Spain's worst floods in a generation.
The king said he wants to approach his next visit to the affected area "taking into account the circumstances we are living through here, and aware that each of us must be in our place".
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