Junts' strategy for financing: "Capital the pressure"

BarcelonaThe ERC's pact with the Spanish government on regional funding has turned the political landscape upside down, and Junts' response has been a resounding rejection of the "one-size-fits-all" approach, promising toa complete amendment to the agreed model with an alternative text to take Catalonia out of the common regime and achieve an economic agreement like the Basque Country's. An "economic agreement" that was defended by the party's heavyweights while they labeled the model a "scam." Aware of the risks and the great pressure exerted—and to be exerted—by both ERC and Comuns, as well as the Catalan and Spanish governments, they have not hesitated to make a decision with many facets.

Sources from Junts per Catalunya consulted by ARA comment that "there is a pressing "The government's support is very strong," but in reality, "it won't last even 24 hours," due in part to the staunch opposition of the Galician nationalists of the BNG—who are demanding a special tax arrangement—the Aragonese nationalists of the Chunta Aragonesista, and the criticism from Compromís. That's why they add that the funding has been "a key operation for passing the budget." Some pragmatic members of the municipal sphere have already expressed that it's better to vote in favor, which contrasts with the consensus at the top against. The vote by ERC to invest Isla in exchange for the "special tax arrangement" was very close, and the PSOE's Andalusian candidate and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, is risking everything in the regional elections. The members of the regional assemblies are relieving themselves of the pressure by clinging to the fact that ERC hasn't managed to talk with the government. "In a few months, who knows" what the Spanish government will be like. According to several leaders, the additional 4.7 billion euros "don't even match the accumulated inflation," which is a billion euros higher.

Other sources within Junts explain that "ERC has voted four times in favor of the economic agreement with Junts, and it's normal that they are being pressured," and that the party "doesn't share the premise that it's impossible to achieve the agreement now that Pedro Sánchez is so weak." While they acknowledge that "the pressure on Junts will be very great," they believe that "it must be used to turn the situation around" and work towards the agreement, which could even be offered to all the autonomous communities. With this approach, this leader suggests that ERC could push for a more ambitious text—although Junts' objective is the agreement itself. He cites as an example that Junts' break with the Spanish government, following the strategy of "maximizing tension," has yielded results such as repeated offenses, and says that, if the goal were to achieve the agreement, they could open negotiations with the Spanish government, together with ERC. A distant scenario.

Dissent

In the municipal sphere, among some members of the more pragmatic sector, there is uncertainty and some dissent. This was publicly expressed by the regional president of Maresme, Carles Bosch, who defended voting in favor of the model because one cannot "give up" on the additional 4.7 billion euros promised, adding that "it will be very difficult to explain" the rejection. But he is not alone, as some members of the regional council are aligned with this gradual approach, which has also been expressed by former regional minister Jaume Giró, who He resigned from the executive committee and as a member of parliament. due to disagreements, but he is still a member.

According to another source in the region, there are "several people in the municipal sphere who think this way," although "they don't want to speak out." However, this source also admits that there is no division within the party leadership, the Catalan parliamentary group, or the Spanish Parliament. It should be remembered that Several mayors from Junts stated that a change of course was necessary. and that mayors like Jordi Masquef from Figueres defended "negotiating budgets in Madrid" to "do useful politics"According to another municipal source, "there's a critical mass in the territory, but until Puigdemont comes back in the spring, nobody wants to speak out or risk getting hurt." However, they hope the rejection of the model will be "a bonfire" and that "they'll negotiate and vote for him."