The curse of President Aragonés

BarcelonaIt will soon be a year since the Catalan elections that turned the political landscape on its head and, arguably, dealt the final blow to the Process. Pere Aragonès brought forward the elections due to the lack of support for approving the budget in Parliament. But this was not a resignation. The then president of the Generalitat believed—and had been encouraged to believe— that this could be the best time to call the country to the polls. The best moment for ERC, of course.

The drought was the government's main concern. The reservoirs in the inland basins were losing water day by day, the rains were lacking, and the worst predictions reaching the president's office indicated that the Generalitat would have to tighten water restrictions this summer. It had been nine consecutive months since it had rained in Catalonia, and water reserves had dropped from 30% to below 15%. In fact, the worst historical moment for the reservoirs came in the early hours of March 9 (14.41%). The rain that day meant that four days later, when Aragonés pressed the election button, he would do so with the reservoirs at 15.02%. Two months later, on May 12—election day—the percentage was already 25%. It rained heavily on March 25 and 26, March 31, and especially April 29. The pressure on the Catalan government due to the drought was so great that people in Palau looked to the sky every morning hoping for some help, which only arrived when Aragonés had already lost the elections. Today, one year later, Catalonia has emerged from the drought, with reservoirs above 60%.

Another headache that was beginning to worry the ERC government was the candidate that Junts would ultimately present in the elections, initially scheduled for 2025. The amnesty opened the door to the return of Carles Puigdemont, and with the former president at stake, the Republicans' prospects became more complicated. Sources in Aragonès's administration acknowledge that this issue loomed over the discussions about bringing forward the elections. The amnesty was supposed to be approved by the end of May, and the elections were called for the 12th of that month. Junts called this decision "sectarian," although Aragonès never accepted that the date had anything to do with Puigdemont. The truth is that, for now, The judges have prevented the Junts leader from being granted amnesty. And without early elections, he couldn't even set foot in Catalonia. The south, because he already used the north as a base in last year's elections.

Without a budget

President Aragonés's curse is threefold, and he bears no responsibility. Since he left the Generalitat it has rained againPuigdemont would have faced the same difficulties if his term had run out, and the main reason for this early resignation—the lack of support in Parliament—doesn't prevent Salvador Illa from occupying what used to be his office. Aragonés believed that government couldn't be run without a budget, and Isla hasn't even presented one.

This week's details

The digital ID is now a reality, and from now on it can be carried on your mobile phone, like credit cards. An innovation that, like most, is associated with some criticism due to the potential privacy issues it may entail. "We have no interest in monitoring anyone," responded the director of the National Police, Francisco Pardo, when asked. A curious response for the police chief.

Salvador Illa brought the Catalan government together in Núria for another round of social gatherings. This time, they wanted to take advantage of the snowy mountain scenery. But not everyone was wearing the appropriate footwear. One of the Catalan government's top protocol officials decided to use a walking stick to avoid falling in the snow. "What a flock we are!" exclaimed one minister, amused, as they were positioned for a photo.