The government is increasing pressure on ERC while asking them to "trust" the PSOE

BarcelonaIn just over ten days, the Catalan government risks a significant portion of its political capital. ERC is standing firm and maintaining its rejection of the Generalitat's budget, while Salvador Illa's administration is seeking ways to pressure the Republicans into changing their minds. The latest to join the fray, this Monday, was the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, taking advantage of the signing of the agreement between Education, UGT and CCOO, which seeks to put an end to the open crisis with the teachers.

Everyone has made their move, and the negotiation is deadlocked, waiting for the Spanish government to make a move that, for now, has not come. The Republicans insist that the PSOE must commit to passing the necessary reforms in Congress so that Catalonia can assume full control of the Personal Income Tax (IRPF), and that without this, they will not sit down to discuss the budget. At stake is the processing of a budget that expands 9.1 billion euros in public funds"I appeal to collective and national responsibility, so that the budget becomes a reality as soon as possible and the education system is strengthened," said Illa. Since the Catalan government approved the budget without securing the support of ERC (Republican Left of Catalonia), the argument put forward from the Palau de la Generalitat (Government Palace) has been that the need for a new budget will become self-evident and that, therefore, it is the Republicans who will eventually back down. The Catalan government has found new arguments in the conflict over the war between the United States and Iran to defend this position: "We call on ERC to join a unified response from left-wing forces to this global political crisis, starting with a budget that provides stability," reiterated the Minister of Economy, Alícia Romero, in an interview with The Newspaper. These words, which so far have gone unanswered by ERC, have infuriated Junts, which accuses the government of using the Middle East crisis for electoral gain, while the CUP laments the Catalan government's "blackmail" regarding education measures—despite the government's guarantee that the agreement with teachers will be implemented with or without a budget.

The bilateral commitment

The last meeting between the PSC and ERC took place on Friday, according to sources. Despite the lack of progress, the Catalan Socialists remain hopeful that Oriol Junqueras understands that the upcoming elections for the PSOE make it difficult for the Treasury to make a new commitment to Catalonia that could become a political football in the campaigns for Castile and León and, soon, Andalusia. "Esquerra will ultimately have to budge. Legislative changes depend on Congress, and the [Spanish] government already approved ERC's demand in the bilateral commission," Romero said. In this regard, the regional minister asked the Republicans to "trust" the PSOE, recalling that previous, equally complex negotiations, such as those concerning financing and the FLA (Regional Liquidity Fund), were successfully concluded. However, this has diminished the possibility that the Fiscal and Financial Policy Council, where the Treasury will present the legal framework for the new financing model, will serve as a platform for the PSOE to ratify its commitment to the Personal Income Tax (IRPF). It is scheduled to take place between March and April.

"The PSC has made a mistake"

Esquerra Republicana (ERC) is shaking off pressure that is also coming from organizations and unions, with whom the Catalan government has signed a budget agreement. "Until there is any movement, we will not negotiate the budget," say Republican sources, who point out that, if necessary, if Catalan finances suffer, the government could resort to supplementary credits. In this regard, they indicate that the executive's strategy of pressuring them could backfire when the time comes to vote in Parliament on March 20. "What will they do then?" they wonder.

One option that the PSC itself ruled out this Monday is that of a Super Sunday The possibility of holding the Spanish and Catalan elections simultaneously for the first time in history is being considered. "The PSC does not consider this scenario," the party's number two, Lluïsa Moret, emphasized in an interview with TV3. In any case, with ten days to go before the vote on the amendments to the entire bill, the government only has the support of the Comuns. This Monday, anticipating a possible failure of the vote, Jéssica Albiach's party demanded that the Catalan government commit to passing the ban on speculative housing purchases, which was agreed upon with them, regardless of the budget.