Andalusia premier lambasts “waste” of PP austerity drive

José Antonio Griñan on Wednesday heavily criticized the policies of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, in particular the cuts he has ordered on social spending, during a speech on his re-appointment as premier of Andalusia, Spain’s biggest region.

Griñan said that all eyes were on Andalusia in hope of different policies from those taken by the conservative Popular Party government of Rajoy.

Griñan’s Socialist Party lost the March regional elections to the PP, but will extend its uninterrupted reign in Andalusia since the restoration of democracy in 1978 by virtue of the support of the United Left group. The PP also controls most of Spain’s 17 regions.

“They are looking at us from outside Andalusia because we represent the hope of a different path,” Griñan said, arguing that reducing the budget deficit needs to be combined with policies to stimulate the economy.

“Getting rid of teachers, putting a cap on equality of opportunity or impoverishing our health system is not an austerity policy, it’s a waste,” Griñan said.