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The much heralded Budget 'debate', in the Spanish Cortes was not so much a debate as a waste of time.

Spain knew before the parties started their snarling and scratching that the result was a foregone conclusion. Each party in the Congress had declared its voting intention before the event. Though most of the marginal, small parties had promised to vote against the PSOE administration and Elena Salgado (Minister of Finance), the Government had been told by their representatives that both PNV (the Basque Country) and CC (the Canary Islands) would vote with the Government whatever happened during the Great Debate. This would give the socialists the tiny but effective majority of six. As it turned out, three more wild cards gave the Goverrnment their vote, and the proposed total rejection of the 2010 Budget was thrown out by nine votes.  
In the opinion of newspapers not dominated by the PSOE, Mariano Rajoy, president of the Popular Party effectively destroyed Elena Salgado in the Budget Debate. This should have been good news for the PP, but according to Salgado, in one of her many replies (replicas) after the Rajoy battering, it was just machismo. Thus she played the feminist card, surprising really for a senior minister in a government that insists on equality, even to the extent of having a Ministry of Equality. Salgado said that in his speech Rajoy had shown "an extraordinary lack of respect".
Perhaps one is being unfair to the lady minister, as everyone knew she had been ordered to represent her ministry and the PSOE, opposing in Parliament the leader of the Populares, instead of the President of the Government, who should have done so. It was common knowledge that Elena's long defence of the budget proposals was prepared by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his six hundred advisors. It is also well known that ZP prefers to delegate anything potentially tricky, or politically dangerous, to any member of his immediate coterie, rather than appear himself. It is always Pepe Blanco, Fernández de la Vega, Juan Antonio Alonso, Manuel Chavez, even the under-educated Leire Pajín, who is sent to the Front if the subject is contentious. What ZP likes about being prezzie is the occasional trip abroad to be a statesman. Indeed, immediately after the Budget Debate he was expected at the White House for a remarkably brief exchange of views with Barack Obama (one official dinner; one 30-minute chat in the Oval Room). This kind of thing, photographed internationally, is what ZP prefers to long and detailed battles in his country's parliament over small matters like four million unemployed (and rising), and actual poverty beginning to make itself ugly right across Spain. Still, on this occasion, ZP didn't have to stay in a hotel in Washington. A special house for honoured guests of the USA was provided for him near the White House. Too thrilling!
Salgado's accusation of machismo was intriguing partly because Rajoy in his speeches was not saying much more than an ex-Minister of Finance called Carlos Solchaga had said a few days before the debate. As he is a member of the socialist party one would have expected a reprimand from on high for daring to dispute with the Leader and his Advisors. If such a reprimand was made the newspapers didn't receive the leak. Solchaga actually said that Zapatero never consults his Ministers, nor listens to them. In ZP's opinion (said Solchaga) ministers are mere secretaries, useful enough, but whose opinion is valueless, because all policy is directed by ZP, and dissent is unheard of. Solchaga considers this attitude bad, because certain themes, such as the Economy, require the mind and opinions of experts in that field. No-one in Spain, not even in its reddest corner, sees Zapatero as a financial expert.
In his opening speech Rajoy absolved Elena Salgado of any blame for the appalling mess the proposed Budget reveals. He reminded the House that she was merely echoing her master's voice. It was this that led Salgado to lose control and accuse Rajoy of machismo. Someone in the corridors of the Cortes was heard to observe during the debate, refering to Salgado, "it's not her fault, she is inexperienced". Such an odd thing to say about a woman who has spent years in socialist politics, and headed other Ministries.
Now comes the painful part; why did PNV and CC vote with the Government, when it was patently obvious that they themselves did not believe in the Budget? You should not spend too much time searching for the answer, which is simple. Both parties, like Judas, were bought and sold. To the Canaries, for instance, a whole flurry of ministers (secretaries) accompanied ZP on a special trip to announce a flourish of government grants that meant a boon of millions (paid for by the taxpayers) floating from Madrid to the islands. The Canary authorities were delighted and flattered by the promised treasures, and instantly announced a vast spending plan, mostly improvements to existing roadways. hospitals, emergency health centres, education, food for the literally starving no, roadworks yes. And the PNV and CC votes meant that Zapatero won his Budget Debate, led for him by a confused lady politician who (one imagines) hardly believed what she was reading.
by Dean Swift / photo: Elena Salgado / Appears in fortnightly edition 387 Tenerife News