Changes in Catalan Civil Society: economic drain and a former Socialist leader in Isla's time

BarcelonaThe pro-Spanish entity Sociedad Civil Catalana (SCC) is in the midst of a transition process. After the resignation of its president, Elda Mata, at the beginning of MayThe members' meeting took place this Friday, consolidating the financial drain of the entity, which continues to fall in spending and has lost relevance since the post-process. Furthermore, the entity has also undergone a slight shift in management. The new president is a former Socialist who was on Miquel Iceta's list in the 2017 Catalan elections and who has always had a very close profile to the PSC: Álex Ramos, who until now was the organization's vice president. He was elected by 99.1% of the vote to lead a board that will have the jurist and expert in constitutional law Teresa Freixes as vice president. The meeting, held this Friday night, was attended by 103 members.

The 2024 financial year accounts were also approved, and the budget and action plan for next year were approved with similar objectives to those of the previous board meeting, prioritizing social mobilization and political and social dialogue with Salvador Illa's government in Catalonia. This year's budget figure is again down from the previous change of presidency and stands at €317,000; the entity makes it clear that it is "similar" to last year's, in a situation they view as stable and emphasizes that they do not receive subsidies. However, in 2022, Mata began his term with a significant drop in spending to €378,000. The decline has been gradual, but in 2022 there was 60,000 euros more to spend, figures one million lower than in 2018, when skyrocketing expenses of 1,573,886 euros had been budgeted, and in 2017, with a total of 1,494,05.

Thus, the reduction in expenses is confirmed again for yet another blow after a few years of Process full of financial frenzy and many costs - with a president like José Rosiñol, who even had to fold amid accusations of irregularities–, although also much more income from donations that are now seen as less necessary from former Espanyol donors. Then, at the height of the Process, full of demonstrations, various events, and publicity, he multiplied his already inflated spending in 2016 by 728,255 euros, but this caused serious financial problems with skyrocketing debt that was mitigated by tightening his belt. Despite the reduced spending, the situation could still be worse because he put his assets at stake to keep the Process case alive in the Court of Auditors.

The new president of SCC

Regarding Ramos's profile, he has displayed a continuist attitude with respect to Mata, but it is significant that in the midst of Illa's presidency, the entity is led by a person who has been close to the PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) but is radically anti-Catalan nationalist and critical of pacts with pro-independence parties. The new president, for example, supported Jaume Collboni's candidacy for mayor on social media and, in October 2023, coinciding with a large demonstration in Barcelona, ​​​​asserted in a conversation with ARA that he trusted in a future presidency for Salvador Illa, whom he defined as a "constitutionalist of the future." It is true that, after the Catalan elections, SCC maneuvered to have Illa become president with an alliance with the PP, Vox, and even Comuns (Communist Party). as this newspaper explained, but this attempt was not successful and the organization's position has ranged from granting an initial margin of confidence to criticism of the "nationalist" pacts in terms of language and funding, beyond the crusade against amnesty.