The departure of José Luis Escrivá to the top of the Bank of Spain has forced the President of the Government to make the second restructuring of his economic cabinet after the departure of the former Minister of Economy, Nadia Calviño, to the presidency of the European Investment Bank. In the first change of cards, Carlos Cuerpo took over the economic portfolio and, now, the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, which is left empty, will be assumed by Óscar López, until now Chief of Staff of the President of the Government. Sánchez did not want to experiment and has filled the position with a person with extensive experience in the party – he was once Secretary of Organization of the PSOE – and who enjoys his absolute confidence.
But the reshuffle does not stop here. The imminent departure to Brussels of the third vice-president and minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, to join the new European executive of Ursula von der Leyen, will force the president to a new reshuffle in his government. Yesterday, Ribera met with the president of the European Commission in Brussels to talk about her future responsibilities in the College of Commissioners and hopes to be able to clarify “in a week” what are the “challenges and responsibilities” that she entrusts to her. Ribera assured that she will continue working “until the president considers” that her departure from the government is opportune.
As for Óscar López, he will have to face the countless challenges that Escrivá’s departure leaves pending. One of the most immediate will be the reorganisation of the radio spectrum caused by the merger between Orange and MásMóvil, which has generated a surplus of frequencies in the 3.5 GHz band, which they have to get rid of in order to comply with community requirements. This must be done this September. Another of the planned actions is to give a definitive boost to the Single Broadband Programme, financed by NextGeneration funds.
In the Civil Service, the unions demand that the Government approve as soon as possible a Public Employment Offer for 2025, that the replacement rate be eliminated and that the temporary employment of 30% of the public sector, double that of the private sector, be ended. They also demand a new salary agreement, the completion of the stabilization processes in the public administrations, the implementation of the 35-hour work week and the development of the Civil Service Law.