The opposition attacks the government over the commuter rail system: "Don't hide"

BarcelonaThe Catalan Parliament continues its plenary session this Wednesday with the question period for the Catalan Government, the first for the Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, who is acting as president while Salvador Illa remains hospitalized. Dalmau responded to the harsh criticism from the opposition regarding the Catalan Government's handling of the commuter rail chaos last week: "They are not fair," the minister stated in response to the leader of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) group, Josep Maria Jové. The ERC deputy insisted that the Minister of Territory, Silvia Paneque, should resign, as should Minister Óscar Puente, extending the criticism to Dalmau himself for having "contributed" to "exacerbating" the crisis. "Don't hide behind the dismissal of two people who hadn't even been there a year," he warned, citing the removal of the president of the Cercanías commuter rail operations director, Josep Enric Garcia Alemany, and the director of operations for Adif (the Spanish railway infrastructure manager), Raúl Míguez Bailo. It was at this point that the regional minister asserted that some statements had gone too far, in his opinion, even noting that "three people in this chamber have held positions of responsibility in the Department of Territory." According to him, "the only correct diagnosis is to take action on the tracks, the trains, and the change in management" of Cercanías, which is in Catalan hands through "the joint venture" and an "investment plan." He also prescribed an "outstretched hand," both towards Junts and ERC, focusing on the issue. These words have not satisfied the Junts members, nor have the actions of the executive branch in the last week. The president of the parliamentary group, Mònica Sales, stressed that "governments around the world have angered everyone" and that "the country has hit rock bottom" with a "resigned" executive that had led Catalonia to "decline."

Management under scrutiny

The leader of Carles Puigdemont's party emphasized the string of strikes and problems that have plagued the Catalan government, such as those led by doctors, the protests by farmers and teachers, and the severe rail crisis. She described it as a "gigantic collapse," noting that in the case of the commuter rail network, "the same Secretary of Mobility" who held the position during the 2007 crisis, Manel Nadal, is now in charge. "How long will this go on? Enough is enough," Sales exclaimed, advocating for a complete transfer of management "100%" to the Principality. Jové even addressed President Illa directly, telling him that Dalmau, "his replacement today, has failed to lead during the crisis" and that "the public's patience is running out." Claiming a "change in the model," he also pointed to the complicity in covering up for the PSOE and the state government: "The crisis is not new; it is the consequence of a model of criminal discrimination against Catalonia," he asserted regarding the disinvestment.

Both Junts and ERC have hit the nail on the head regarding the government's management, given that the Socialists made this area their top priority: "Neither management nor ambition," said Jové. "We Catalans don't need any more excuses or propaganda," Sales added.

Outstretched hand

Dalmau's explanation is that "all the decisions the Government has made" have been aimed at "restoring citizens' right to freedom of movement," but "above all" prioritizing safety. However, after the week horribilisDalmau stated that he is "very aware that there are angry people in Catalan society": "We need to decide whether we lead them towards anger or towards solutions," he concluded. Dalmau alluded to Oriol Junqueras's party, stating that "with previous governments" like that of Pere Aragonès, "some aspects of the railway crisis began to be reversed." Meanwhile, the leader of the Catalan PP, Alejandro Fernández, pointed to the "atrocious incompetence" of the Catalan government, and the Vox spokesperson, Joan Garriga, again called for elections, blaming the crisis and the lack of investment on the PSC. Around 11:00 AM, Dalmau himself appeared before the Catalan Parliament to report on the repeated disruptions to the railway network following the fatal accident in Gelida a week prior.