The Partido Popular of Andalusia (PP-A) is pushing for increased state aid for those affected by recent severe weather events, specifically requesting that the central government expand access to loans and guarantees through the Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO). The initiative was presented in the Andalusian Parliament on Thursday, February 21, 2026, according to reports from Europa Press and Teleprensa.
The PP-A’s proposal centers on providing financial relief to individuals and businesses impacted by the storm damage. This includes advocating for fiscal relief measures, as well as facilitating access to ICO-backed loans and guarantees. The party is urging the national government to broaden the scope of existing aid programs to encompass a wider range of damages and losses, according to Demócrata.
Pablo Zalba Bidegain, a former President of the ICO from November 2016 to June 2018, and currently a Member of the European Parliament for the Partido Popular, was not directly involved in this specific parliamentary push, but his prior role overseeing the ICO lends context to the PP-A’s request. Zalba served as a deputy in the European Parliament from 2009 to 2016, as detailed in his Wikipedia entry.
The PP-A’s motion in the Andalusian Parliament seeks to compel the state government to actively negotiate with national authorities to secure these expanded aid packages. The party argues that the current level of support is insufficient to address the full extent of the damage caused by the recent storms. As of this reporting, the central government has not publicly responded to the PP-A’s demands.
