Junts shoots at Pedro Sánchez's government: "What argument does he have left not to call elections?"

MadridThe relationship between the PSOE and Junts has not been going well for some time —they have avoided negotiation since the Junts members declared the investiture agreement broken—, but this Wednesday the spokesperson for Carles Puigdemont's party in Congress, Míriam Nogueras, has escalated her 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 makes no decisions: "What argument is left for him not to call elections?".

Nogueras has reproached Sánchez for his government's policies, which she believes do not improve the situation of Catalans, in addition to 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. "You use Catalonia as a stage to make propaganda and Salvador Illa swallows it as a Catalan president would never have allowed it", she stated, alluding to the progressive summit held at the weekend in Barcelona with world leaders. "Did you explain that the Spanish progressives clubbed Catalans who wanted to vote, or that they govern in Barcelona thanks to the PP, or that they have voted against investigating the abuses and murders of military service?", Nogueras asked herself, proclaiming: "Catalonia is losing and we are paying for the party in Spain".

Pedro Sánchez did not like the Junts member's tone at all. So much so that in his first reply, he moved on from answering her: "The control session is for answering questions. No problem in presenting answers to you". "Speak louder, you can't be heard well", the leader of Junts also replied, visibly annoyed.

For the Spanish president, there is no reason for Junts to renounce its government program and, unlike other times when he has moderated his tone with Puigdemont's party, Sánchez has stated: "I don't know why it bothers you that we have convened governments 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 has defended his policies against "illegal" wars such as those in Iran that do "impoverish." And he continued: "And what problem do you have with regularization? What problem do you have in recognizing rights? Migration is contributing to economic growth." "This government makes Catalonia and Spain better countries," he concluded.

Elections yes, no to the motion of censure

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 longer mediation sessions in Switzerland—, but until now they had avoided calling for early elections. In fact, when former president Carles Puigdemont announced the rupture, he used this phrase: this phrase: "They may have the power, but they will not be able to govern." A way of expressing that they would not give them support in Congress, that they should forget about budgets, but without demanding new elections. With Wednesday's session in the Spanish chamber, sources from Junts 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 like 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 and 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 communication 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 out until 2027. "The existence of this progressive government is also justified by the agreements between the PP and Vox," Sánchez ended up replying to Nogueras, as the socialists present themselves as a guarantee that the ultras will not reach Moncloa.