July 29 (Reuters) - Chief Executive Officer of Caixabank SA , Gonzalo Gortazar:

* SAYS PROPOSED TAX ON BANKS COULD HAVE AN IMPACT OF BETWEEN 400 AND 450 MILLION EUROS IN 2023, ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES

* SAYS SPANISH TAX ON BANKS IS "A HUGE DISTORTION OF COMPETITION"

* SAYS IT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO WEAKEN THE BANKING SECTOR THROUGH TAXES WHEN WE FACE A DIFFICULT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

* HOPES LEGISLATION ON TAXES CAN BE AMENDED IN THE NEXT MONTHS TO SOFTEN IMPACT

* SEES NET INTEREST INCOME IMPROVING IN 2023 COMPARED TO 2022 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Madrid Newsroom)