The Círculo distances itself from Salvador Illa and demands that he reach an agreement with Junts.

BarcelonaThe PSC government has placed access to housing as one of the top priorities of the legislature, along with the improvement of public services, economic development, and security. And, this Wednesday, the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, appeared at the Economic Circle Meeting with an announcement: the Generalitat now has 665 plots of land ceded by 226 municipalities in Catalonia, where it plans to build a total of 21,289 social rental homes. almost half of the 50,000 apartments promised. Now, Isla has found himself with an audience that is beginning to distance itself from the socialist executive because it does not like the partners with whom it is negotiating the work of the Government, ERC and the Comunes (with them it also signed the commitment to build 50,000 public apartments until 2030) 40th meeting of this economic forum -, the head of the Catalan executive has had to listen to how the president of the Círculo, Jaume Guardiola, touched his nerve over some measures that he has approved so far, and that have already received criticism from the employers' association: for example, the increase in taxes for the largest holders than the increase in the tourist tax. "suitable for what the country needs," Guardiola said. He attributed this to the investiture partners, ERC and the Comunes, from whom he has asked to distance himself. What's more, he has urged him to "set his sights high" and make a pact "with the main opposition party," Junts per Catalunya, to return to the "center." Without much success," he stressed. The Círculo has, however, blessed the PSC government's plan for Catalonia to once again become the driving force of Spain, with an investment of 18.5 billion.

The president has not taken a backseat to Guardiola's criticism: "The Government will do things that the Cercle will see as good and bad, but it will not be a spectator." If it is necessary to intervene in the market, he has warned, it will do so.

In this sense, Guardiola's request that the PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) reach an agreement with Junts (Junts) on a tax cut has also not been well received. The president has been open to listening to "everyone" and has said that the limit of tax pressure is that it does not discourage investment, but he has pointed out that sustaining the healthcare and education systems requires resources and that economic growth is not enough to reduce inequalities.

"I would prefer that the takeover bid not go through."

Salvador Illa used his speech at the Cercle to detail the plan to build the 50,000 apartments he promised in his investiture debate. The new development this Wednesday is the land that city councils have made available to the Catalan government in the first call for applications from the public land reservation registry set up by the Generalitat (Catalan Government), where construction will begin "immediately." Twenty-five percent of the new apartments, which will be built with the support of the Catalan Institute of Finance, will be for young people under 25, and 8% for vulnerable families.

Isla's speech to the business community began with a firm defense of the need to combat inequality so that prosperity does not remain "in one part" of society. Here, he warned that this is not a fight that only encompasses social democratic governments and that it is essential to maintain social cohesion in the face of the rise of populism, including in Catalonia. "The Catalan government is trying to be consistent. Every time there is a market failure, the Catalan government will intervene," warned Illa. "And inequality now has the name of housing policy," added the president, who admitted that "there can be all kinds of opinions."

The disagreement with the Cercle has also been echoed in the debate over the future of energy, still reeling from the massive blackout. While Guardiola asserted that nuclear power plants in Catalonia "cannot be shut down" if supply is to be guaranteed, the Socialist president countered that there is an agreed-upon schedule and that, if the owners deem it appropriate, they can request an extension of their useful life. It has also maintained its commitment to renewables., as in front of the Parliament during the debate on the government's response to the blackout this Tuesday.

Coinciding with the airport

On the other hand, regarding the expansion of Barcelona airport, Isla did align himself with the Círculo: "Everyone knows what I think," he said. But, again, he argued that a consensus proposal is needed. In other words: compatible with what the ERC and Comunes, who oppose the expansion, advocate, based on what comes out of the committee of experts on this infrastructure. Their opinion should arrive soon.

There was also agreement regarding the takeover bid for Sabadell. "I would prefer that the takeover bid not go through," declared Illa. This is the first time the president has been so explicit in his position. This morning, during the control session in the Parliament, he had hinted that the government has also made moves on this issue, albeit discreetly. "I do more than I say," he said, in response to ERC, the Comuns (Communist Party), and the CUP (Cup), who have inquired about the Catalan executive's role in the operation now open to public consultation. This is the first step toward a decision by the Ministry of Economy, which must assess whether to submit the matter to the Council of Ministers, which may impose new conditions of general interest on the financial operation. The consultation was, in fact, President Pedro Sánchez's big announcement this Monday, also in front of the Círculo. The PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) will also have to weigh in on the Spanish government's position regarding the takeover bid in Parliament. Esquerra (Spanish Left) has filed a motion for a resolution requesting the Catalan parliament to demand that the Spanish government "deny authorization." This text will also require a vote from the PP, where there are differing opinions.