In Basque Country, left-wing seperatists from Euskal Herria Bildu and the ecologist coalition Equo Euskadi keep supporting basic income.
In Spain, the basic income concept has recently been brought back into the spotlight by Podemos political party. Although meanwhile basic income has been taken out from Podemos economy orientation project (replaced by other social economic measures), other Spanish social and political organizations have cuddled the concept, particularly in the Gipuzkoa part of the Basque Country, know in Spanish as Euskadi.
In Gipuzkoa, the party EH Bildu defends the basic income implementation, on the basis of a thorough economic study conducted, among others, by Daniel Raventós, which concludes that 75% of the regional population would benefit from the measure, whilst the 10% richest citizens would finance most of it. In Euskadi, the party Equo Euskadi has also written the basic income in its electoral program, for which has also relied on Raventós study to backup its defense.
Just past week, a symposium on basic income has been organized by the municipal house of representatives in Gipuzkoa where yet again the basic income implementation simulation cited above was at the center. One of the delegates, Ander Rodríguez, which heads the social policy group in Gipuzkoa parliament, besides defending basic income as a concept and economic innovation, has suggested it could be implemented in a progressive way, though not immediately.
Despite the results presented in the referred study and the interest picked up by local politicians and parties, other parties and government representatives are still against it, accusing the basic income scheme of being utopian, unconditional (as seen from a negative perspective) and unfair for allegedly transferring money from workers to others that just choose not to work. In fact, recently approved legislation in the region actually hardens conditionality for accessing social inclusion transfers, plus limiting its validity for two years. However, at the same time, such social programs are widening the number of people covered, plus increasing spending.
More information at:
Language: Spanish
Natalia González de Uriarte, “Basic income for all citizens: reality or utopia? [La renta básica universal para todos los ciudadanos, ¿realidad o utopía?]“, eldiarionorte.es, October 2014
Language: Spanish
EHBildu, “Each Gipuzkoa inhabitant could be receiving an yearly 7.902 € basic income, covered by a single income tax [Cada Gipuzkoano podría una renta básica de 7.902 € con un tipo único de IRPF]“, Euskal Herria Bildu online magazine, February 1 2015
Language: Spanish
S. López, “The Basque government hardens the conditions to access conditional basic income, plus limiting its duration for two years [El Gobirno Vasco endurece los requisitos de la renta básica y limita su cobro a dos años]“, Noticias de Gipizkoa, November 2014 (?)
Language: Spanish
Vincent Navarro and Juan Torres López, “An economy project for the people [Un proyeto económico para la gente]“, Podemos, November 2014
