Isla returns to work promising to tackle the country's crises: "I know what Catalonia needs"

BarcelonaThe president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has returned to work. He was on sick leave for 30 days, during which time he was relieved of his duties while recovering from COVID-19. public osteomyelitis caused by a bacterium, which led to her being admitted urgently to the ICU of the Vall d'Hebron Hospital in BarcelonaIn an official statement from the Gothic gallery of the Palau de la Generalitat, the Catalan president expressed his gratitude to the medical team that treated him, as well as to the rest of the staff at the hospital: "Since I had to be admitted, these have been difficult days at times, but also enlightening and rewarding." Illa returns after a turbulent few weeks in Catalonia, marked by the commuter rail crisis, which the Catalan government has had to address with the Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, at the helm, along with the Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque. This episode was compounded by the teachers' strike—awaiting a proposal from the Education Ministry—the management of the recent storm, and the doctors' strike called for this week. Isla, who has continued his recovery at home in recent weeks, said he has taken note: "I am fully aware of what Catalonia has experienced during the period in which I have had to delegate my duties. These have been difficult days for the country and for all its citizens," he stated. Parliament has targeted Councillor PanequeBut the Catalan government has ruled out making her resign or dividing the responsibilities of her large ministry. While she was in the hospital, Illa opted to leave the crisis management in the hands of Dalmau, acting president, maintaining contact by phone to resolve queries.

Faced with crises that generate "unease" among citizens, Illa has promised "certainty," ambition, and rigor. The president maintains that he has a diagnosis of the roadmap to follow, with more resources for public services, investment in infrastructure, and measures to guarantee access to housing. "I know what Catalonia needs. I know what the Catalan people are demanding. I know what needs to be done. And today I tell you, again, that we will do it," he emphasized. Another challenge he faces is securing the necessary support to approve the Catalan government's budget. that the Government is determined to approve the first quarter with ERC and Comuns.

The president's return has sparked all sorts of reactions. From Junts, Carles Puigdemont has criticized him for "pretending to start from scratch" now that he's back from leave, despite having been in power for a year and a half. "The chaos on the commuter rail system didn't appear out of nowhere. Nor did the discontent of doctors and teachers. Nor the concerns of the pork sector. Nor the lack of housing," he wrote to X. This Monday, the Junts members took it a step further and announced that their group in Parliament has submitted a request for the president to appear before the plenary session urgently to explain himself in a context of "collapses." Turull linked the "chaos" in the Principality to "a lack of leadership" and stressed that during Isla's absence, "accumulated problems" have flared up, to which the president responded in an appearance with "untimely excuses." Together for Catalonia (Juntos) called on Friday for Isla to submit to a vote of confidence, a request they reiterated on Monday, but the formal request for his appearance before Parliament depends exclusively on the Parliament, not on Isla's wishes. The People's Party (PP), more acerbic in its response, seized the opportunity to satirize the controversy. because of the incentives for CAPs to shorten sick leave"We hope that his return is not the result of financial incentives for doctors to discharge patients," Santi Rodríguez stated. Comuns and CUP also criticized the measure, but celebrated Isla's reinstatement.

Against the "commodification" of well-being

In the statement, which he made after undergoing rehabilitation to regain strength in his legs, the president again defended "humanity" in politics and the values ​​of freedom, solidarity, and fraternity as a response to the far right. "These days in the hospital I have witnessed the profound sense of humanity and solidarity that is lived and practiced," he emphasized. Isla is already walking without crutches, but has lost weight during his convalescence. He is still receiving intravenous antibiotics. Doctors anticipate that he will be able to switch to oral antibiotics as early as next week.

The former Minister of Health also praised the public health system, which he described as "excellent" although it has "room for improvement." In this regard, he wanted to send a message against privatizations, at a time when the Spanish government has launched an offensive against them. against Madrid's privately managed healthcare modelFollowing the Torrejón de Ardoz case, a new law was introduced to bar him from participating. He argued that the most valuable things in life, such as "family, friendship, and health," are priceless. "We cannot allow the commodification of our well-being or the human values ​​that underpin it," he added. Isla also expressed his support for the Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, wishing her a speedy recovery after the medical procedure that has left her on leave.

First event on housing with the Church

The president will gradually resume his duties, with events that, for the time being, will not require him to travel across the country. The first of these will be at the Palau de la Generalitat and will focus on housing. He signed a collaboration agreement mid-morning He had planned to create a joint commission with the Church with the Archbishop of Tarragona, Joan Planellas, to study which properties belonging to Catalan dioceses could be transferred to the Generalitat (the Catalan government) for use as social housing. This plan was put on hold when Isla had to take sick leave due to an illness that required him to be hospitalized for two weeks. As explained by AHORA, The transfer of Church properties to create social housing is a path first explored by the Tarragona Commons with the Archdiocese, and which will now be sought to be exported throughout Catalonia.