He believes that the bank's benefits confirm the "adequacy" of the tax designed by the Government

BILBAO, 3 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The First Vice President and Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, warned this Friday that setting the variable mortgage rate "is not a measure that can be implemented structurally", and has defended that what What has been done, on the other hand, is to "give the option of freezing for a period".

In an interview with Radio Euskadi, collected by Europa Press, Calviño thus referred to the proposal of the ministers Yolanda Díaz and Ione Belarra to force banks to freeze mortgages.

After recalling that there is already a code of good practice that "opens up options for citizens" to, for example, not pay commissions for changing a mortgage from a variable rate to a fixed rate, the minister stressed that the largest banks in the country have "committed to help alleviate the situation of families.

"We are going to see the impact that these measures have", he indicated, while defending that he is in "constant dialogue" with the main financial institutions, which are "very aware that we must pitch in and make life easier of your clients".

Thus questioned about the legality of capping mortgages, the minister has warned that "what one must not do is put financial stability at risk." "That is why we negotiated with the representatives of banks, savings banks and credit unions and, in the end, we arrived at a code of good practices that goes far beyond what we have had up to now. We are going to see what path this code has of good practices, but I see it positively that the banks will join", he added.

"We are taking measures to alleviate the situation of families but we cannot change the functioning of a market such as the mortgage. What about the people who signed a fixed-rate mortgage? We cannot only protect a part of the citizens", he insisted .

For all these reasons, he has defended that the code of good practices supposes "a good agreement", although it is "a minimum" and it is necessary "to see how it is deployed" by financial institutions.

In addition, he has opted not to classify the measure proposed by the ministers of United We Can as electoral, since "everyone has the best will and all options are analyzed."

Regarding the benefits of the banks that are becoming known in recent days, Calviño has stated that they only "confirm the appropriateness of having imposed an extraordinary tax on banks and energy companies."

"It is very adequate and the benefits announced by the bank make it clear that they have enough margin to pay it without passing it on to their clients. When we see the salaries and bonuses, all the more reason," he argued.

In this way, he has maintained that the Executive has done "very well" by establishing a tax that "all of Spanish society considers to be fair." "We are establishing measures that are a minimum and banks can always go further in supporting their customers. At this time there is a general clamor that they have to pitch in," he highlighted.

The minister has thus insisted that, currently, everyone is aware that it is "the time to pitch in and work together". "I think that more and more banks are more aware, not only for their own financial interest but for their reputation", she has concluded.

Questioned if it is uncomfortable for her to correct the proposals of her partners in economic matters, she has indicated that constructive proposals "are all welcome and have to be "analyzed" and what is involved is "to make packages and have an approach that is what efficient as possible", so as to "maximise the impact of the public resources used".

As he has stated, it is good that there are proposals, both inside and outside the Government, and he does not believe that they have "any negative element". "A different thing is that, in terms of the tone that is used or the criticism and that constant conflict that is also sometimes fed in the media, I think that among all of us we have to lower our tone a bit and try to combat the tension because it does not contribute nothing to the well-being of the citizens and, sometimes, the noise prevents us from seeing what is important and what is being done from the Government, which is a lot".

Regarding whether he considers it difficult to govern in coalition, he has indicated that it is the first experience that has taken place in Spain and he believes that it has "its advantages and disadvantages like everything else".

In any case, she has ensured that the balance of these years of government is "very positive" and has stressed that they have had to face "absolutely extraordinary situations", for which she feels "proud of what has been done".

In his opinion, the "adequate measures and decisions at the appropriate time" have been taken. "I refer to the tests, now the Spanish economy is strong, it is resisting well in such a difficult international context, it continues to create jobs, we have managed to lower inflation very quickly and it is already the lowest inflation in the entire euro zone, of all the European Union actually", he stressed.

Nadia Calviño has assured that what this shows is that this Government "responds to the priorities of the citizens" and, that, "above this noise that, sometimes, misleads", they are focused "on things to eat, on what is important, in responding to what the citizens expect".

On whether he expects the legislature to run out and the current government pact can be reissued, he has stated that this year will be "very intense", with the European presidency in the second part and they are already working "to the fullest in order to lead to the best possible port this months".

"I, of course, hope that President Sánchez is the next president of the Government of our country because I believe that it is what Spain needs and every day it is clearer to me," he said.