Catalan regional coalition breakdown causes government shift

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Oct 2022 18:46

Junts' decision to withdraw places the government in the hands of the Catalan Republican Left.

Catalan regional president, Pere Aragones (AFP/Getty Images)

Tensions between Catalonia's two main pro-independence parties reached a boiling point on Friday night, when the Junts party withdrew from the regional coalition administration, leaving the territory in the hands of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) minority group.

The two parties, which formed a coalition following the regional election in February 2021, have deep and long-standing disagreements on the best approach to achieve their common goal of Catalan independence. The ERC prefers a negotiated political solution to secession from Spain, whereas Junts prefers a different approach.

Last week, Catalonia's ERC President, Pere Aragones, fired his Junts deputy, Jordi Puigneró, after it was revealed that the party planned to launch a vote of no confidence in his cabinet.

After a ballot on Friday in which 55.7% of its members voted to leave the coalition, Junts announced that it was departing the government. “Junts has won and Aragonès has lost because we thought he was capable of leading a coalition government and it hasn’t turned out that way,” said Laura Borràs, president of Junts.

Following the breakdown, Aragones promised that his minority government will "dedicate itself 100% to serve the public" and ruled out a snap regional poll. He also promised a reorganization. “Today everyone must think of the country, of Catalonia, and of all citizens, in the difficult months ahead,” he said. “It is about the country winning. This is my responsibility and that of all the institutions in Catalonia.”

Spain's Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, called for stability amid huge international upheaval. “Having stable governments is fundamental,” he said. “I favor stability when it comes to the Catalan regional government. Whatever the circumstances of the Catalan government, we will always offer an outstretched hand in the name of dialogue to bring about agreement within Catalan society.”

Because the ERC is a minority administration, Aragones will have to strike deals with other parties to achieve his legislative program. The Catalan Socialist Party, which received the most votes in the previous regional election, has previously stated that it is willing to assist in negotiating the regional budget's approval.

When secessionist Catalan MPs voted to declare an independent republic, the Spanish government fired Carles Puigdemont, the former president, and his cabinet took direct control of Catalonia and ordered a new regional election. However, Puigdemont escaped to Belgium to avoid imprisonment, and the topic of Catalan independence remains.