The roughly 6,500 members of the centre-right Independence Party Junts, who were consulted for two days, had the final say in the internal war that is undermining the regional government. President Aragones, a moderate, is now solely in charge of the Generalitat, along with the elected members of his ERC political family.
A Junts party adviser had bought a box to pack his belongings in, just in case. A wise precaution as it accompanies Carles Puigdemont’s party in opposition.
Carles Puigdemont’s party moves to the opposition
Tensions between the two separatist parties Junts and ERC, resulting from two opposing strategic visions: confrontational separatism for ex-President Puigdemont’s friends and dialogical separatism for Aragones’, made joint governance increasingly difficult. Until Pere Aragones clearly tells his allies to choose between staying in government or joining the opposition. Question that the leaders of the junts cleverly chose to return to their militant base.
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Political crisis in the Generalitat of Catalonia: ERC already ready to govern alone
Moderate solely responsible
“Do you want Junts to continue to be part of the current government of Catalonia?”. Simple question, simple answer: no. 55.73% of members surveyed (with 79% participation) refused to give the ERC-Junts a second chance. Moderate supporters of dialogue and advocates of confrontation with Madrid, an ultimately unlikely couple who publicly tear themselves apart. Again around the Diada in early September and of course last week with an awkward (?) vote of confidence followed by the sacking of Junts VP Jordi Puignero.
Quim Torra, Pere Aragones’ “Junts” predecessor, was happy about the divorce. “Congratulations!” he shouted happily to the activists from his Twitter account as soon as the result was known. As for Carles Puigdemont, by the end of the day he still hadn’t reacted to the news, he who was pleading for the union this week.
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New crisis in Catalonia: the separatist government is hanging by a thread
On the way to a high-speed overhaul
Pere Aragones and his party were already working on the possibility of a reshuffle earlier this week. Aside from calling early elections, the president must quickly redistribute six portfolios (justice, business, health, external action, research and universities, social rights) who want to wrap up the episode “as soon as possible,” Councilor Laura Vilagra confirmed yesterday. To this end, this Friday evening, he held a meeting with his close guard at the Palace of the Generalitat in Barcelona.
His new government is also to be tightened. The Catalan daily La Vanguardia spoke yesterday of the abolition of three departments and of mergers, particularly between justice and home affairs or equality and social rights. In this case, few or no new entrants to the Generalitat.
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Catalonia: Junts leave power and let ERC rule alone