The Catalan and Spanish governments celebrate the return of La Caixa

MadridThe Spanish government is enthusiastic about the decision this Thursday by the La Caixa Foundation, on which the CriteriaCaixa holding company depends, to return the headquarters to Barcelona after having marched for the Process more than seven years ago. It is the second return of a large company to Catalonia this 2025, after Banc Sabadell decided to take the step last January, in the midst of a hostile takeover bid by BBVA. Once again, for Pedro Sánchez's executive it is one more sign of the "positive impact of the normalisation of the political and economic situation in Catalonia", said sources from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, under the leadership of Carlos Cuerpo. "It is very good news", reiterated the same sources minutes after it was made public.

In Madrid they have been the first to react, but not the only ones. The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, also applauded the decision, which he described as "good news for Catalonia" in a brief public statement. In fact, he has chosen to "thank" the move. "It is important news, positive for Catalonia", he added, claiming that it is "the confirmation that we are on the right track". "Institutional stability, rigor and legal security are positive and help in making these decisions [...]. When you work and don't make noise, things end up getting on track," he concluded, Roger Palós reports. Also in the political arena, the president of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, has defended that "the past, present and future" of La Caixa is "inseparable" from the Catalan economic reality. "Nobody should have ever forgotten it," he said on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

Return of other companies

The decision of the entity presided by Isidre Fainé has also been welcomed with open arms in the Catalan business world. "I said that many important companies would return to Catalonia and this is happening," said the president of Fomento del Treball, Josep Sánchez Llibre, in a press release, where he also assured that it is "great news for the economy."

During all this time, employers' associations have been pulling strings to make returns like that of La Caixa a reality. "We have always maintained an attitude of caution on this issue, but since I became president of Foment del Treball I said that companies would return before the end of our second term; and that is the case," Sánchez Llibre reiterated. Fomento anticipates that "there will be more news of companies returning soon." In fact, when PSOE and Junts negotiated to "promote" the return of companies that had left after 1-O, within the framework of Pedro Sánchez's investiture agreement, the business community saw it as something that was not helpful. "Discretion is wanted," say sources from the Catalan employers' association.

Pimec also values La Caixa's decision "very positively". "It is a natural and coherent movement", says the small and medium-sized business association. "This decision reinforces confidence in the dynamism of our territory and contributes to consolidating a more stable and competitive environment", argues the business organisation.

Both in the political and economic case the story that was used with Sabadell's return is repeated. The Minister of Economy then assured that the decision of the bank from Vallecas made "perfect sense". "The process of normalisation that has taken place in Catalonia has meant that the conditions that led to the departure [of the banks and other companies during the height of the Process] have disappeared," he pointed out in an interview on Onda Cero. The bank chaired by Josep Oliu assured that today "the [political and social] circumstances no longer exist" that motivated its transfer to Alicante. "It is a matter of pride, belonging and proximity," pointed out the CEO, César González Bueno, in an interview with ARAWith Thursday's decision, the La Caixa Foundation and its investment arm, CriteriaCaixa, are leaving Palma and returning to one of the entity's towers on Barcelona's Diagonal Avenue.