Is the government at risk due to the commuter rail chaos?

BarcelonaThe commuter rail system is on its way to becoming the biggest obstacle for Salvador Illa's government to overcome. A year ago, a chaotic week in the system already led to a special plenary session in the Catalan Parliament, with the opposition demanding action. the resignation of the Minister of Territory and spokesperson for the executive, Sílvia PanequeThe investments touted by the Spanish government have so far yielded no visible results; on the contrary, the tragic accident in Gelida further highlighted the fragility of the infrastructure. The commuter rail system collapsed and was plunged into the most serious crisis the system has ever suffered. This situation made it inevitable that the opposition would once again demand Paneque's resignation, and this time, one of the coalition partners, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), would join them. The commuter rail system will likely be the Catalan government's biggest headache throughout its term, but could it bring down Salvador Illa's administration?

Initially, the government has tried to shield itself by focusing responsibility for managing the crisis on Renfe and Adif. While the opposition continued to demand Paneque's dismissal, the regional minister called for resignations on Monday, and a few hours later, Both companies dismissed two of their managersHowever, the fact that Òscar Playà, head of the new commuter rail operator, is now taking over the management of Renfe Catalunya signifies two things: a desire to make it clear that the transfer process is underway, but also the difficulty of separating the Catalan government from the management of this crisis.

The partners' position

The budget is the yardstick by which the stability of a legislature is measured. Esquerra Republicana (ERC) has demanded Paneque's resignation—Health Minister Illa is unwilling to let one of his key advisors, who oversees such crucial areas for the president as housing, fall—but has not made it a condition for opening budget negotiations—even though Oriol Junqueras held an urgent press conference last Sunday demanding Paneque's dismissal. The Republicans remain committed to pragmatism, and the party is willing to discuss the budget even though the commuter rail crisis persists—knowing that this issue is generating internal debate within the party. However, first, the Spanish government should resolve the income tax revenue impasse, the condition ERC has set for budget negotiations. But this issue is completely blocked. Therefore, if the Republicans want to negotiate the budget, they will have to find another way to get there.

The Comuns, for their part, continue to demand that the executive fulfill the agreements signed during the investiture and are focusing particularly on housing. In fact, both partners are the most interested in the government remaining in power to ensure that their pacts come to fruition. Without an alternative in Parliament to challenge Isla; with polls predicting a rise in the far right; and as long as Oriol Junqueras's and Jéssica Albiach's parties are willing to prop up the Socialist government—with budgets or supplementary credits—the executive faces no risk, even if the Cercanías commuter rail system could make its life impossible throughout the legislature.

The week's details

Roger Montañola, former PDECat candidate, was at the Catalan Parliament this week, where he was seen talking with members of parliament from ERC and the PP, among others. As he passed by one of the televisions in the cafeteria, he thought he saw former regional minister and former PDECat candidate Àngels Chacón: it was actually PP deputy Míriam Casanova, who was speaking in the plenary session.

The funeral for the victims of the train accident in Adamuz, Huelva, was held on Thursday. Cadena SER was reporting on the arrival of guests when, upon hearing that the Three Kings were not yet present, the journalist had a slip of the tongue and referred to them as the "Three Wise Men."