Spain's Government Boosts Social Spending Ahead of 2026 Elections

The Spanish Council of Ministers has accelerated the allocation of public funds ahead of the upcoming municipal and autonomous elections scheduled for May 2026 and a possible early general election. In the last two months the cabinet approved nearly €6.2 billion to increase state financing for dependency care, a transfer of about €3 billion to Social Security for non‑contributory expenses and universal benefits, and €2.57 billion for active employment programmes.

Additional measures include €172 million for primary and community health, €130 million to subsidise up to 90 % of bus and train fares for young people aged 18‑30, €200 million to combat heat in schools, €60 million for oral‑health services, €904 million for territorial distribution of dependency funds, and €35 million to support unaccompanied migrant children. Infrastructure spending adds roughly €1 billion for road maintenance and €600 million for rural irrigation and agricultural repairs. A draft law on medicines, aimed at promoting generics and revising price controls, is slated for approval on the next council meeting.