Saved by the international mediator

BarcelonaIt is at least curious that the only time the international mediator's opinion is made public is to give air to both Junts and the PSOE. The diplomat Francisco Galindo honoured his origins and emerged as the saviour of a delicate moment in the negotiations. Not so much for the content but, above all, for the deadline that Junts had imposed on itself with the vote this Tuesday on the question of confidence in Pedro Sánchez. The secretary general of Junts, Jordi Turull, has been full of praise for Galindo, just as the former Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero had done over the weekend from the other side of the table.

"Francisco Galindo deserves our utmost respect and gratitude", "We are very grateful for the efforts he dedicates" and "His role is essential" are some of the little flourishes that Turull has dedicated to him. The vaudeville of the question of confidence, which began with The public challenge that Carles Puigdemont launched to the PSOE on December 9, is closed after three months without any agreement in between and with the Spanish government breathing fresh air until the next clash with Junts. The task of a mediator – or verifier – is to find the points of agreement between the interlocutors. Therefore, Junts and the PSOE knew from day one that Galindo would not like ultimatums. Neither of them want to break anything, but if they are still blocked by the transfer of immigration powers, what will happen if at some point they have to talk about the self-determination of Catalonia?