Bala Extra · Pedro M. Sánchez

Subvencionar el combustible no es solución a largo plazo

·19 min·1 clip

Pedro Sánchez questions why Spain keeps subsidizing fossil fuels instead of investing in its abundant renewable energy potential.

The episode begins with host Pedro M. Sánchez referencing a recent letter to the director of Diario.es about government measures from an extraordinary council of ministers. He states the government reduced VAT on electricity, gas, and fossil fuels from 21% to 10%, along with aid to the agricultural sector. Sánchez questions how this relates to low citizen adhesion to electric vehicles in Spain. He wonders how long Spain can remain dependent on an energy source it does not control. The host dismisses making a meme blaming Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for fuel price rises, attributing the problem instead to global geopolitics. He criticizes the Spanish far-right for aligning with figures like Donald Trump who harm Spanish interests. Sánchez argues the real issue is Spain not doing enough in the energy sector it controls, like renewables, while heavily subsidizing fuels. He notes Spain is one of the countries with the best position in renewables due to wind and sun, but lacks oil and natural gas. The host mentions the ongoing geopolitical tension involving Trump, Iran, and its impact on energy infrastructure and prices. He compares electric vehicle adoption rates, citing figures of 50-90% in Germany, Denmark, and Norway, contrasting with Spain's situation. Sánchez shares a personal experience using a carpooling app called 'the tribe,' which saved him about 40 euros but only works within his province. He discusses the arrival of affordable small electric vehicles like the Twingo and Renault 5, which with subsidies can cost under 12,000 euros. The host points out ongoing challenges like needing parking and domestic charging capacity, and notes cuts to subsidies for domestic charging points. He criticizes the government for subsidizing fuel liters while reducing support for vehicle scrappage programs that modernize the fleet. Sánchez states the fuel subsidy is popular because people don't want to pay high diesel prices, but it's unpopular with Europe, which may fine Spain. He argues the government must choose between popular short-term measures and correct long-term policies. The money spent on fuel tax cuts could have been used to subsidize more solar and wind energy installation. Sánchez concludes he is not in favor of the government's decision, comparing it to other temporary measures like rent control. The episode ends with standard closing remarks for the podcast.

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