The People's Party (PP) seizes every opportunity to delve into the alleged corruption cases surrounding Pedro Sánchez, even at the Christmas Cup. They chose to offer chistorra, which is the code name that, according to the Civil Guard, Koldo García used in conversations intercepted by the UCO (Central Operative Unit) to refer to 500-euro bills. The police believe that the 100-euro bills were called 'lettuce'.
The path opened between Junts and Esquerra
Upd. 0
3 min
BarcelonaThe week began with Míriam Nogueras making a plea within Esquerra Republicana (ERC): unity in Madrid. This isn't a new demand from Junts per Catalunya (JxC); in fact, it has been a recurring theme in this political space since its inception. However, it does represent a shift in the discourse that Junts has adopted since gaining a key position in the Congress of Deputies. From 2023 onward, with Junts' seven key deputies playing a crucial role in Madrid, Nogueras's party's strategy was characterized precisely by its attempt to differentiate itself from the Republicans and, specifically, from Gabriel Rufián. They weren't the only ones to change course; Esquerra Republicana, which had also negotiated independently during the 2019-2023 legislature, briefly flirted with a coalition. the idea of unityA unity that is possibly more difficult now than ever.
If there is any area where the two pro-independence parties are at odds, it is in Madrid. Míriam Nogueras and Gabriel Rufián represent a kind of antithetical personality. Their personal rapport tends toward zero, and their public recriminations are unlike any other previous political tandem in the pro-independence movement. However, there is a line of communication, which neither Rufián nor Nogueras are playing up: the reform of the financing system. The Republicans and the PSOE are making progress on the new model, details of which may be revealed (if nothing falls apart) at the beginning of January, but for it to pass, the votes of Puigdemont's party in the Congress of Deputies are essential.
"These are preliminary contacts," say knowledgeable sources, that is, a kind of preliminary conversation before the one that will take place if the PSOE and Esquerra finalize the financing model. Does this mean that Junts is aware of the state of negotiations on the financing model? Not at all. There is no exchange of information on the details of the negotiations with the PSOE, but there is a relationship between the two groups that goes "beyond parliamentary courtesy," another source points out. One example: Esquerra has not initiated the same contacts with other groups in the plurinational majority, which will also be necessary. Another: when Oriol Junqueras's party decided to present the bill to collect income tax from Catalonia in Congress on its own to pressure the PSOE, they notified Junts before making it public; and they did the same when they withdrew it. Another detail: there has been a certain fair play In the Catalan Parliament, in some votes on financing, Esquerra Republicana (ERC) has not voted against some resolutions presented by the Junts party. The key names here are Lluís Salvadó, who is leading the negotiations between ERC and the PSOE on financing, and Toni Castellà, who is Junts' spokesperson on economic matters in the Parliament. Also involved in this more amicable dialogue have been Albert Batet, who has now become Carles Puigdemont's deputy in the party, and Josep Maria Jové (ERC).
In any case, open dialogue does not imply that Junts intends to support the special financing arrangement. Nor does Esquerra expect it to. In fact, the Republicans assume that once they present the agreement, if they ultimately finalize it, there will be a dismissive attitude from Puigdemont's party. And Junts has already warned that it will not support any system that falls outside the common framework. In any event, both will face a dilemma: Esquerra will have to decide whether to finally agree to a financing model with the PSOE that provides more money to Catalonia and perhaps guarantees ordinality, but which bears little resemblance to the special financing agreement they signed with the PSC because the Generalitat will not be collecting all the taxes for now. And Junts will also have to decide whether to vote 'no' to more than 4 billion euros in additional funding for the Generalitat.
The PP's sausage
When the European Parliament is like Congress
This week, the Popular Party brought the cases of alleged sexual harassment within the Socialist Party (PSOE) to the European Parliament, where the same debate that took place in the Spanish Congress was replicated. To such an extent that only Spanish could be heard. When the first foreigner, a Belgian socialist, took the floor, he warned: "I will speak in English to remind everyone that we are in the European Parliament."
