Earthquake in the PP over the defense of Albiol's Catalan

BarcelonaThe mayor of Badalona, ​​​​Xavier García Albiol, establishes his own profile within the Catalan PP in defense of the language of the Principality. However, an approved motion "in support" of the National Pact for the Language on numerous points – promoted by Salvador Illa's executive – has caused an internal earthquake: the Catalan PP, pressured by Génova, has disavowed Albiol in a statement, since despite the fact that his strategy has been well received by multiple members, the newspaper The World and the nerves and concern on the part of the state leadership, according to ARA. "We reject President Salvador Illa's language policy and the National Pact," reads the forceful statement sent this Thursday by the leadership led by Alejandro Fernández. However, sources consulted maintain that the problem has been primarily in Madrid, not with the Catalan People's Party (PP).

It all comes about because this week, in Monday's plenary session, the city council led by Albiol with an absolute majority approved a motion supporting the government's National Pact for the Language. It defined the plan as a "strategic instrument to protect, incentivize, and increase the use of Catalan in all sectors of society," although it did not adhere to it as the opposition wanted because the municipal government believes there are points that do exclude Spanish. This, in any case, has not pleased the state leadership at all, especially given the rejection by the Madrid media ecosystem and by entities that include "constitutionalism" such as Impulso Ciudadano and Asamblea por una Escuela Bilingüe, with accusations of being "complicit" with Catalan nationalism, which he has also verbalized.

In fact, at 12 noon this Thursday, Albiol himself remedied the situation by releasing a video in which he attempted to clarify that he had not joined the National Pact for Language, but only some points, as he had previously defended this morning in an interview on Catalunya Ràdio. In defense of "bilingualism" and the language of Catalonia, Albiol defended Badalona City Council as an "example of plurality" in the use of the two official languages. And he reiterated that it is necessary to promote Catalan to ensure its survival: "Within two or three generations, it will be residual and will only be spoken in certain areas, such as the media, if we continue like this," he explained.

The video, however, has not extinguished the fire, and the Catalan People's Party (PP) has issued a statement "firmly rejecting both the language policy of President Salvador Illa and his separatist partners, as well as the so-called National Pact for the Language." It repeats the arguments of the "imposition of Catalan" and the "exclusion of Castilian," attacks "nationalist politics," and defends "real coexistence." Despite amending the plainness of the motion—which Albiol himself has acknowledged should have been made clearer, as it supported only "some" points of the pact—it does champion "linguistic richness as a meeting point," as they say is demonstrated "in all the municipalities and cities governed by the People's Party (PPC)" with policies to "promote plurality." However, the PP had been very harsh in Parliament against the National Pact for Language: the PP spokesperson, Juan Fernández, had spoken of a "linguistic dictatorship" to criticize it.

The PP's own profile beyond the fire

Albiol's habitual use of Catalan and his defense of the language led to a motion that claims Catalan as the "language of Catalonia" and "an essential element of identity and cohesion," and seeks to promote it in education, culture, sports, technology, communication, citizen services, and with support for language organizations. His distinctive profile was also confirmed this week with the demand for a agreement with Junts for a motion of censure in an interview on RTVEOn other occasions he defended "availability to talk to everyone", unlike the vetoes in Junts that has defended the Catalan leaderHe even "spoke" months ago with former President Carles Puigdemont in a "very correct" manner when they met by chance in the European Parliament, as he himself explained in an interview—despite explicitly refusing to meet. His willingness to engage with Junts has made him emerge as one of the clear voices in this regard. Compared to 2017, Albiol has projected a moderation in the national axis that has allowed him to attract pro-independence voters, with a massive victory in Badalona, ​​​​also in the old town, where nationalist forces had traditionally always won.

Close sources emphasize that Albiol has always had this linguistic sensitivity, and that he has expressed it "publicly" many times. "Many of us defend the same thing as Albiol," maintain consulted officials, who are in favor of the "Constitutional Catalanism," similar to the Galicianism of the PP in Feijóo's region –with whom Fernández has disagreed–. They believe he fits this profile, due to his use and defense of Catalan, along with several deputies who prioritize Catalonia's own language and have a moderate profile, as well as regional cadres. "We'll never rise if we don't identify ourselves as a Catalan party," they assert, and claim awareness and a distinct profile. Other cadres also emphasize the appropriateness of this Catalan profile and maintain that "the measures Albiol has promoted for the language are perfect." They also agree on reaching out to Junts for a vote of no confidence or even to open the door to future understandings within the framework of legality. And a warning: leaders consulted assure that they will defend Albiol's position to whomever is necessary, including internally.