Junts shoots against Pedro Sánchez's government: "What argument is left for him not to call elections?"

MadridThe relations between the PSOE and Junts have not been going well for some time —they avoid negotiation since the Junts considered the investiture agreement broken—, but this Wednesday the spokesperson for Carles Puigdemont's party in Congress, Miriam Nogueras, has raised the tone against the Spanish president. To the point of reproaching him that he has been "governing without a majority" in the Spanish chamber for "too long" and that he makes no decisions: "What argument does he have left not to call elections?"

Nogueras has reproached Sánchez for his government's policies, which she believes do not improve the situation of Catalans, as well as lamenting the "cases of corruption that surround him", that "the regularization of migrants has been imposed" and that the quota for the self-employed has not been lowered. over the weekend in Barcelona with world leaders. "Did you explain that Spanish progressives beat Catalans who wanted to vote with batons, or that they govern in Barcelona thanks to the PP, or that they have voted against investigating abuses and murders in the military service?

Pedro Sánchez did not like the tone of the Junts spokesperson at all. So much so that in his first reply he avoided answering her: "The control session is for answering questions. No problem in posing answers to you."

For the Spanish president, there is no reason for Junts to renege on its government program and, unlike other times when he has moderated his tone with Puigdemont's party, Sánchez has reaffirmed himself: "I don't know why it bothers you that we have brought governments together to defend democracy against the reactionary wave. If you don't like it, I'm sorry, but in Catalonia there are many left-wing voters and organizations that claim their existence and progressive commitment." The Spanish president has denied the majority and defended his policies against "illegal" wars like those in Iran, which do "impoverish." And he continued: "And what problem do you have with regularization? What problem do you have with recognizing rights? Immigration is contributing to economic growth." "This government makes Catalonia and Spain better countries," he concluded.

Elections yes, no to the motion of no confidence

With the call to hold elections, Nogueras has taken another step in the opposition to the Spanish government. Since they broke ties, they have stopped negotiating with the PSOE —there are no more mediation sessions in Switzerland—, but until now they had avoided calling for early elections. In fact, when former president Carles Puigdemont announced the break, he used this phrase: "this phrase": "You may have the power, but you will not be able to govern." A way of expressing that they would not support them in Congress and that they should forget about budgets, but without demanding new elections. With Wednesday's session in the Spanish chamber, Junts sources have made it explicit that they consider that they cannot continue governing "through the back door", without approving laws in the Spanish chamber or approving policies such as regularization without the chamber's approval.

Their conflict is not only with the PSOE, but also with Sumar, which is pressuring them to vote in favor of the rent extension next week —which they rule out: they propose a tax cut—. Last week Yolanda Díaz went so far as to call Junts "racist and classist", which led to the leadership of Puigdemont's party breaking off all dialogue with the party.

However, despite all this, Junts rules out presenting a motion of no confidence with the PP and Vox, as they do not want to ally with the far right to oust Sánchez. They believe that the PSOE should be the one to ask itself if, democratically, given the lack of parliamentary support and the impossibility of approving budgets, it should continue governing. However, the Spanish government is determined to hold on until 2027. "The existence of this progressive government is also justified by the agreements between the PP and Vox", Sánchez finally replied to Nogueras, as the socialists present themselves as a guarantee that the ultras will not reach Moncloa.