PSOE and PSC Strive to Maintain Relations with Junts Amid Political Turbulence
Efforts increase to prevent a political split as Carles Puigdemont leans towards a more radical stance
In a last-ditch effort to prevent a rupture with Junts, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) have intensified their engagement with Carles Puigdemont, the influential leader of Junts.
This move comes as Puigdemont signals a shift towards a more radical populist approach, historically advantageous in the polls.
Recent data indicates that Puigdemont's influence might be waning—evidenced by low viewership of his recent TV3 interview—leading Junts to conclude that awaiting a Spanish Constitutional Court decision on amnesty is no longer a viable strategy for the next ten months.
Gerardo Pisarello, a deputy from the political alliance Sumar, has urged the government to extend gestures towards Junts, despite supporting the executive's stance to block a motion urging Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to face a vote of confidence in Congress.
The aim is to coax Junts back into the so-called 'progressive majority' that initially brought Sánchez to power.
Providing some relief to Sánchez and PSOE is the involvement of key figures from Catalonia’s Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), including Oriol Junqueras and new general secretary Elisenda Alamany.
They are set to meet with Puigdemont and Junts' secretary general Jordi Turull in Belgium.
The talk centers on restoring the pro-independence unity, with an immediate focus on the disparate visions of Junts and ERC concerning the legislative future in Madrid.
The Spanish government hopes that Junqueras can persuade Puigdemont to support the national government.
The discussions will take place in Waterloo, marking the first encounter between Puigdemont and Junqueras since July, a time when Puigdemont sought support to become the president of Catalonia, despite lacking sufficient votes.
That meeting ended with ERC backing Salvador Illa.
In a significant gesture, the PSOE-linked Constitutional Court (TC) has disqualified judge José María Macías, a conservative Catalan, to potentially pave the way for approving amnesty measures affecting Puigdemont and others involved in the 2017 independence push, a deliberation anticipated for October.
Efforts in Barcelona have equally intensified.
Catalonia's Economy Minister Alicia Romero has suggested a possible meeting between Salvador Illa and Puigdemont, advocating for normalized relations.
However, from the Palau de la Generalitat, caution is exercised, suggesting the meeting could be delayed to avoid any potential fallout if Puigdemont were to meet Illa and subsequently break ties with Sánchez.
Additionally, Romero extended a negotiating hand to Junts over new funding frameworks, as announced bilateral commissions between the Spanish state and Catalonia are set to discuss this and other significant matters like the transfer of control over Catalonia’s commuter trains to the regional government come February.
Moreover, the PSC's votes were crucial recently to prevent former Catalan president Artur Mas from testifying over the failed privatization of ATLL, which his former Economy Minister Andreu Mas-Colell will have to handle.
Mas is reportedly seeking the right moment to rejoin Junts.
Despite numerous overtures, Junts appears steadfast, perhaps even moving further from the possibility of rekindling ties with the Spanish socialists.
For instance, as discussions continue over transferring commuter train administration, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) has announced major protests against the current state of this service, a move seen as an encumbrance to negotiations.
ANC President, singer Lluís Llach, is a known ally of Puigdemont, implicating the protests as strategic hurdles.
As of now, Junts remains open solely to selectively supporting initiatives benefitting its sovereignist aspirations.
This stands to obstruct significant legislative initiatives, such as the national budget and social policies Sumar aims to advance, marking a stalemate for the government.
Adding to the suspense, if Puigdemont and Junqueras meet today, there's an expectation that Puigdemont will announce his official break with PSOE in a Brussels press conference scheduled for Friday, subsequent to a party caucus meeting.
This development would conclude dialogue efforts between Junts and PSOE, previously conducted discreetly under the supervision of Salvadoran diplomat Francisco Galindo for the past year.
While Junts often criticized the meager outcomes of these talks, they had, beforehand, with ERC, secured significant wins such as amnesty.
This move comes as Puigdemont signals a shift towards a more radical populist approach, historically advantageous in the polls.
Recent data indicates that Puigdemont's influence might be waning—evidenced by low viewership of his recent TV3 interview—leading Junts to conclude that awaiting a Spanish Constitutional Court decision on amnesty is no longer a viable strategy for the next ten months.
Gerardo Pisarello, a deputy from the political alliance Sumar, has urged the government to extend gestures towards Junts, despite supporting the executive's stance to block a motion urging Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to face a vote of confidence in Congress.
The aim is to coax Junts back into the so-called 'progressive majority' that initially brought Sánchez to power.
Providing some relief to Sánchez and PSOE is the involvement of key figures from Catalonia’s Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), including Oriol Junqueras and new general secretary Elisenda Alamany.
They are set to meet with Puigdemont and Junts' secretary general Jordi Turull in Belgium.
The talk centers on restoring the pro-independence unity, with an immediate focus on the disparate visions of Junts and ERC concerning the legislative future in Madrid.
The Spanish government hopes that Junqueras can persuade Puigdemont to support the national government.
The discussions will take place in Waterloo, marking the first encounter between Puigdemont and Junqueras since July, a time when Puigdemont sought support to become the president of Catalonia, despite lacking sufficient votes.
That meeting ended with ERC backing Salvador Illa.
In a significant gesture, the PSOE-linked Constitutional Court (TC) has disqualified judge José María Macías, a conservative Catalan, to potentially pave the way for approving amnesty measures affecting Puigdemont and others involved in the 2017 independence push, a deliberation anticipated for October.
Efforts in Barcelona have equally intensified.
Catalonia's Economy Minister Alicia Romero has suggested a possible meeting between Salvador Illa and Puigdemont, advocating for normalized relations.
However, from the Palau de la Generalitat, caution is exercised, suggesting the meeting could be delayed to avoid any potential fallout if Puigdemont were to meet Illa and subsequently break ties with Sánchez.
Additionally, Romero extended a negotiating hand to Junts over new funding frameworks, as announced bilateral commissions between the Spanish state and Catalonia are set to discuss this and other significant matters like the transfer of control over Catalonia’s commuter trains to the regional government come February.
Moreover, the PSC's votes were crucial recently to prevent former Catalan president Artur Mas from testifying over the failed privatization of ATLL, which his former Economy Minister Andreu Mas-Colell will have to handle.
Mas is reportedly seeking the right moment to rejoin Junts.
Despite numerous overtures, Junts appears steadfast, perhaps even moving further from the possibility of rekindling ties with the Spanish socialists.
For instance, as discussions continue over transferring commuter train administration, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) has announced major protests against the current state of this service, a move seen as an encumbrance to negotiations.
ANC President, singer Lluís Llach, is a known ally of Puigdemont, implicating the protests as strategic hurdles.
As of now, Junts remains open solely to selectively supporting initiatives benefitting its sovereignist aspirations.
This stands to obstruct significant legislative initiatives, such as the national budget and social policies Sumar aims to advance, marking a stalemate for the government.
Adding to the suspense, if Puigdemont and Junqueras meet today, there's an expectation that Puigdemont will announce his official break with PSOE in a Brussels press conference scheduled for Friday, subsequent to a party caucus meeting.
This development would conclude dialogue efforts between Junts and PSOE, previously conducted discreetly under the supervision of Salvadoran diplomat Francisco Galindo for the past year.
While Junts often criticized the meager outcomes of these talks, they had, beforehand, with ERC, secured significant wins such as amnesty.
Translation:
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