Together with the PP and Vox, they reject the creation of an anti-corruption agency in Congress.

BarcelonaThe Congress of Deputies on Tuesday rejected the creation of an anti-corruption agency with votes against from the PP, Vox, and Junts. The initiative, which was part of Sumar, would have given this new body the power to sanction. This is a new setback for the regional council members against Spanish Vice President Yolanda Díaz, with whom Carles Puigdemont's party had a bitter clash in Congress last week over reduced working hours. What argument did Míriam Nogueras's party use to reject this agency? According to Junts, it has a recentralizing spirit and conflicts with the powers of the Anti-Fraud Office in Catalonia.

Junts MP Josep Pagès, as reported by ACN, asserted that the proposal is a "last-minute idea" and a "partisan scheme" that does not respond to the desire to find "real solutions" to corruption. "The last thing we are interested in is duplicating structures with the creation of a state body that centralizes powers and seeks to control the Anti-Fraud Office," he said.

The initiative had received the support of the investiture partners, except for Junts, and, among other things, proposed the creation of an independent authority with functional autonomy that would be responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation, and also sanctioning of corruption. Companies that engage in corrupt practices could receive fines of up to €1 million for serious cases, and €400,000 in the case of individuals. The office would also have the power to withdraw subsidies or tax benefits and prohibit these companies from contracting with the public administration for up to three years.

Setback

Despite the fact that it was an initial debate—taking it into consideration—the vote is a new setback for the Spanish government, formed by PSOE and Sumar. It comes after Junts also rejected Díaz's flagship proposal for a 37.5-hour workweek last week, and the Spanish vice president and Nogueras engaged in a heated debate in Congress. "You represent capital, and I represent the working class," he snapped at them the leader of Sumar. Now, at the same time, the council members have reached agreements with the coalition government this Tuesday. On the one hand, processing the delegation of immigration powers and hold a first debate next Tuesday (doomed to failure due to the no of Podemos), and on the other hand, Junts has agreed Various amendments with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to ensure that Catalan is used by large companies in customer service.