the different items of the State budgets

MADRIDPart of the total consolidated expenditure that the Spanish government has budgeted for next year will be distributed between the various ministries and institutions such as the Royal House. In fact, it is through the ministries that the Spanish government transports expenses such as dealing with the rotating presidency of the European Union next year. In this case, it is 145 million euros that will be used to pay for the activities arising from this exception and will be channeled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Presidency, mainly. As for the budget in the Royal House, it will have an allocation of 8.4 million euros, the same as in 2021 and 2020. Therefore, it remains frozen for the third consecutive year.

The ministry that sees its spending capacity grow the most is that of Defence. Specifically, the portfolio headed by Margarita Robles will receive 12,825 million euros, that is, 26.3% more compared to what it received in 2022. This budget includes the so-called Special Defense Programs (4,902 million of euros). This is an increase that responds to the commitment adopted by the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, with NATO to increase defense spending to 2% of the state’s GDP by 2029 and that has generated unrest within the coalition for the rejection of Unites Podemos.

The other ministry that comes out better off is that of Inclusion and Social Security, which will have a budget of 16,089 million euros. In addition, to this item must be added a transfer from the State of up to 19,888 million euros to this portfolio. The reason, the agreement to alleviate the “improper” expenses that this ministry has assumed for years through the contributions of the workers but that, in reality, should have been paid by the Spanish government directly. But what really affects Social Security, and the budgeted expenditure as a whole, are contributory pensions: 166,777 million euros, of which 120,054 million go to retirements, while the rest to pensions for widowhood, orphanhood, disability or in favor of a family member.

The Ministry of Transport will also receive an important item: 12,269 million euros. Behind him, the ministries of the Interior (10,501 million) and that of Ecological Transition (10,371 million). The public policies of Industry and Energy scratch a large part of the budget (it increases by 2.6%, up to 11,600 million euros). The increase in aid to electro-intensive consumers (65 million) stands out, the energy rehabilitation program for buildings, with 780 million, or up to 673 million euros for renewable hydrogen projects.

Who also registered a strong increase is the Ministry of Equality – under the baton of Irene Montero (Unides Podem) -, which reaches 564 million euros after last year the barrier of 500 million was overcome for the first time . The bulk of the amount will go to the fight against gender violence, with 260 million (51 million more).

Increase in wages

Like civil servants, the government has also increased its salary. The wages that appeared in last year’s budgets have increased because it has been agreed to add 1.5% to the initially agreed increase (2%). In this way, the president of the Spanish government will finally receive 87,814 euros and not 86,542 euros. Looking ahead to next year, he will receive 90,010 euros (an increase of 3.5%). The highest salary included in the State budgets is that of the president of the Constitutional Court, Juan José González Rivas, who will earn 167,169 euros a year, while Carlos Lesmes, president of the General Council of the Judiciary, will receive 151,186 euros per year.