ERC issues a warning to Illa to comply with the financing: "Your time is running out."

BarcelonaSalvador Illa knows that a large part of the viability of the legislature depends on the PSOE agreeing to comply with the agreement for one-off financing. Therefore, in the speech that opened the general policy debate on Tuesday, the president of the Generalitat reiterated his commitment to comply with this pact and that he would present a "concrete" proposal when he had one. This is the proposal that the First Vice President and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, is expected to present in the coming weeks to reform the entire regional financing model. But for the Republicans, "words" are no longer enough, and they demand "actions," which is why they redoubled their pressure this Wednesday. "Time is running out; we could say it's overtime," warned the president of the ERC group, Josep Maria Jové. As long as there are no steps that serve to materialize this financing, the Republicans maintain that they will not negotiate the budget.

Without accounts for the second consecutive year, Salvador Illa's government would be weakened, which is why the president has come out to defend the financing pact as a "core" agreement, but he has also admitted that "it is not easy" to materialize, especially given the opposition of men Popular and Socialist parties. Now, Esquerra demands that Isla use his good relationship with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez to pressure the PSOE to make a move. "Today, the PSC is the party with the most representatives in Madrid; the weight and influence it has in the Spanish government is decisive. [...] It has the necessary strength to enforce it," demanded Jové, who criticized Isla for acting as "the PSOE's spokesperson."

Pedro Sánchez pledged a few days ago to present the reform of the financing model before the end of the year, and according to sources consulted, this proposal could arrive this month or, at the latest, in November. Therefore, Esquerra is increasing its pressure. "Don't hide behind the excuse that they don't pay enough attention to you, that the vice president and candidate for Andalusia [María Jesús Montero] doesn't want it, that she's locked in a band. You have the responsibility and the necessary strength to make this agreement effective," warned Jové. The Republican leader, in this regard, not only reminded Isla that his budget is up in the air—the government is about to present the bill—but also that he has had to "withdraw" several bills due to lack of support.

The Republicans have asked for a litmus test that Isla is rowing to comply with the financing agreement. Jové has demanded that he clarify how the PSC deputies in Congress will vote on the bill that Esquerra presented alone to legally protect the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC) from collecting personal income tax. "He has a litmus test that he wants to comply with what was agreed upon. It won't be words, it will be concrete actions, votes," Jové assured. The Republicans registered this law without the endorsement of the PSOE, which does not share its content.

Living off the rent

Aside from the financing, Jové began his speech with criticisms of the Catalan government: he accused Isla of living "off the back of the profits" of the previous government, led by Pere Aragonès. "Catalonia was already on the move," he insisted after the president said in his speech yesterday that in his first year, Catalonia had gotten going. "For a year, they've been presenting initiatives that are the culmination, continuation, or simple cosmetic changes to the work that the Republican government left on track. The country was already on the move. The risk now is that you will derail it," Jové pointed out.

Illa responded in a conciliatory tone that his statement did not contain a criticism of the previous Republican government, and acknowledged that it is true that there are things like investment in research or the forgiveness of the FLA debt that are the result of negotiations between the Republicans and the PSOE. Jové also criticized him for speaking of "normality" in Catalonia and demanded that he come to terms with resolving "the political conflict with Spain," which "remains very much alive."

The Comunes (Commons) demand compliance with the housing bill.

Pressure to comply with the investiture agreements came not only from within the Republican ranks, but also from the Comuns (Communists) party, which demanded the implementation of the sanctioning regime to enforce the housing law, one of the conditions the party sets for beginning budget negotiations. In fact, Isla's announcement this Tuesday to build 214,000 new homes has also failed to convince the Comuns party, and the group's president, Jéssica Albiach, has called the proposal a "kick in the pants." Despite welcoming what they consider a "long-term vision," the Comuns party calls for "short-term responses and actions" in this matter: "As long as there are people who don't have a roof over their heads, you are not the government for everyone," Albiach said. Furthermore, the Comuns party leader also took aim at Junts (Junts) for the proposal it will present to prohibit access to social housing for people who have been registered as residents for less than 10 years and asked them not to leave the "democratic bloc."

Albiach also took advantage of the debate to put forward one of Comuns' flagships: opposition to the expansion of El Prat airport. The group's leader reproached Isla for saying that "no one can call themselves an environmentalist and increase emissions by 30%" and stated that "their idea of progress is typical of the developmentalismHe also addressed the debate surrounding the challenge of migration and population growth, asserting that what is needed to address it is "fair and unique funding that returns all that is due to us." This, he said, would ensure "strong public services."