Catalonia resists ‘mad’ austerity

Artur Mas, Prime Minister of the autonomous Spanish region of Catalonia, has committed his administration to severe austerity, but rejected, in a speech on the 28 March 2011, as 'destructive' and 'mad' the spending cuts that would be needed to fulfil the central government’s 2011 deficit targets for the regions.

Mr Mas also said he was promoting a 'budget pact' among Catalan parties so that the region could demand a new deal from Spain to reduce Catalonia’s net contribution to the national exchequer.

ESO: Background information: Catalonia to slash budget by 10% http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalonia-to-slash-budget-by-10/

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