Tax hell debate has been reignited by a leading social figure who argues Spain has room for more progressive policies.
Xavier Trabado, president of the Third Sector Table, made the comments at a social forum organised by the Pere Tarrés Foundation.
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He firmly rejected the notion that Spain is a ‘tax hell’, stating the country remains below the European average in tax rates. Consequently, he believes there is significant scope to advance redistributive policies that tackle inequality.
Navigating the Tax Hell Debate in a Polarised Climate
Mr Trabado argued that markets inherently generate inequalities, requiring ever-greater economic effort to reduce them. He expressed concern over the growing influence of right-wing coalitions within the European Union and the messaging propagated by social media. Therefore, he stressed the need to defend traditional journalism to maintain a balanced information ecosystem. Furthermore, he criticised what he called ‘white kings’ like Donald Trump for promoting discourse against climate action and global governance.
“One day Trump will disappear, but Trumpism will remain,” he stated, highlighting a conceptual battle over terms like ‘freedom’. He argued true freedom depends on access to education, health, and housing, not merely freedom from taxation. Additionally, he cited the right’s alarm over minimum wage increases, which contrary to predictions, did not lead to higher unemployment.
The forum also addressed critical social deficits. Mr Trabado described child poverty as “a shame and an indignity” and highlighted the severe shortage of social housing. He acknowledged the Catalan government’s purpose to increase investment, but criticised the regional funding model as unfair to Catalonia. This issue of housing affordability remains a pressing concern, as highlighted by recent efforts to secure funding for the housing crisis.
On pensions, he affirmed the system works but called for investment in active ageing, not just more care homes. He advocated for a more professional public administration with stable management, stating, “We cannot have a good country without a good administration.” Mr Trabado also defended the vital role of the third sector in Catalonia, lamenting campaigns that cast doubt on the honesty of charitable organisations.
He favoured strategic alliances between organisations without sacrificing smaller entities that do excellent work. Preferring the ‘explorer’ who seeks solutions over the ‘shaman’ who claims absolute certainty, he defended collaborative work with the administration. Finally, he regretted that the Catalan Parliament is clogged with necessary but unapproved legislation, including laws for the third sector, the elderly, and homelessness. The full discussion was reported by El País.
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