Catalonia's funding, in the ARA Premium Club chat

"Good afternoon, how are you? I'm Aleix Moldes, head of politics at the newspaper and one of the journalists trying to clarify the details of the proposed new funding model. I'll be in the chat for the next hour and a half if I can help answer any questions you may have." This is how he addressed the group of ARA subscribers who are part of the Premium Club and who participate in their exclusive Telegram communication channel. An intense debate immediately ensued.

When asked by subscriber Xavier Roig what was unique about the new model agreed upon between the PSOE and ERC, Aleix Moldes responded: “That’s the million-dollar question. In the presentation of the proposal, the ministry didn’t mention a unique model, and in fact, what was presented is an update of the previous model,” Moldes replied. “It’s true that the calculations on paper benefit Catalonia more than the current model, but everything is done within the common framework. It was ERC who spoke of a unique model,” he added.

“The renewal of the financing model is based on the premise that no one loses money. This has always been the case in previous renewals of the model. This time, the Spanish government has committed to putting 22 billion euros into the common fund of the autonomous communities. Why are some communities opposed? In some cases, like Extremadura and Cantabria, it's because they would neither gain nor lose (therefore, it's politically in their interest to oppose it). What about the Valencian Community, Murcia, or Andalusia, which are some of the autonomous communities that would benefit the most? With the PP aspiring to reach La Moncloa (the Prime Minister's residence), they are not interested in joining a proposal from the PSOE (agreed upon with ERC), but their regional ministers will probably have to get Feijóo to commit to a new model when he reaches La Moncloa,” Moldes explained.

Regarding the chances of the new financing model succeeding, Aleix Moldes pointed out that "Juntos has played hardball from the start, explaining that it will only accept a special economic agreement. But it has already opened the door to negotiating the new model with the PSOE." The head of Political Affairs emphasized that "right now they insist they won't back down from the current agreement, but they're opening a door to negotiation. I think everyone will carefully weigh the risks of opposing or approving this model. Juntos won't vote for it as it stands now, and the PSOE and ERC should move away from their initial proposal. The problem is that the more they try to benefit Catalonia, the harder it will be to convince the members of parliament from, for example, Més per Mallorca, the BNG, or Chunta, who are also needed." Of course, not a single vote will be wasted after what Pedro Sánchez invested.

“Why wasn’t a model similar to that of the Basque Country chosen from the outset?” Montse Soldevila asked. “It’s a topic that has often generated controversy and no one has fully clarified it. It’s said that at the time, Jordi Pujol agreed to Catalonia joining the common model in exchange for the Generalitat being able to decide on language and culture. This hasn’t been confirmed,” Aleix Moldes replied. “Another widespread theory is that the Basque Country and Navarre maintained their distinctiveness even during the Franco regime and, therefore, when democracy arrived, they weren’t willing to relinquish it,” Moldes added. “The loss to the common coffers that Catalonia would represent if it had a special economic agreement like the Basque or Navarrese ones would have a very significant impact.” That's why, when ERC or Junts have raised the issue, they have always insisted that the Generalitat would commit to introducing a clause that guarantees, unlike the Basque Country and Navarre, solidarity with the other autonomous communities."

The debate remains very much alive among subscribers, and also in ARA. This very weekend, Artur Mas, former president of the Generalitat, spoke about it, emphasizing that "whoever governs..." "We need more fiscal sovereignty."