Lluc Salellas: "I would like to see a left-wing pro-independence candidate in the Spanish elections."

BarcelonaGirona is the only Catalan provincial capital with a pro-independence government, headed by Lluc Salellas (Girona, 1984), who remains uncertain about whether he will run again for mayor in next year's elections. In any case, he is committed to maintaining the pro-independence unity formula, which includes the CUP (within Guanyem Girona), Junts, and ERC, and even to expanding it.

The interview takes place in Barcelona. Did you come by train?

— No, with my schedule and the commuter rail and train problems, I haven't dared to take it.

What do you think of everything that's been happening these past few weeks with Cercanías (commuter rail)?

— I think it's absurd and the predictable end to a structural situation the country has been experiencing for many decades: a lack of investment. And there are those responsible, aren't there? In this case, the PP and PSOE, who for years have preferred to invest in trains in other parts of the country and not in the ones Catalans use every day. And another thing, I don't think that in any other crisis Spain has faced, the minister has been as absent as he has been on the Catalan issue. Three weeks later, Mr. Puente still hasn't set foot in Catalonia. Why hasn't he met with the mayors who requested it?

He justified it by citing the coincidence with the fatal AVE train accident in Adamuz.

— I understand that the Adamuz accident is a complex issue requiring a lot of work, but that doesn't mean the minister is still absent three weeks later. My feeling is that he's keeping his distance to avoid any images he wouldn't like or communication situations he can't control.

This week, the CUP did not clarify who their candidate for Girona would be next year.

— Should the Guanyem Girona party decide I should run again, I need to reflect on whether I can sustain the mayoralty for another four years, whether I have the desire, the strength, and the drive. And then there's another element I always like to consider, which is my family. The decision isn't solely mine; my being mayor has repercussions for my family, and my partner should be able to participate in the decision. All three decisions must be made in the first half of the year.

Because he ran in 2023, he already had to request special authorization from the CUP, having exceeded the limit of two terms.

— I'm a member of the CUP, but Guanyem Girona is the municipal project I'm involved in. And it's within that space that the decision will be made. If it's decided that I should continue, then we'll talk to the CUP.

Can't you imagine yourself doing politics from other areas, for example in Parliament?

— I'm clear that when I stop being mayor, I won't automatically run in another election. I'll take some time off.

Are you worried about the rise of the far right that all the polls indicate?

— Absolutely. It's not just the polls that show it; any mayor can see that this is an increasingly prevalent issue in our towns and cities. As a democrat, an antifascist, and a defender of equality and social justice, I'm concerned. What I'm certain of is that democratic political options should not form alliances with the far right.

The rejection of immigration is the issue that most fuels the growth of the far right.

— It would be positive to have a basic agreement on how we treat all those who come to live in our country. I also think it's our responsibility not to let others dictate our agenda, and that, ultimately, if you ask the neighbor on the third floor, apartment 2, what worries them most is housing and how they'll make ends meet. What people are concerned about is not being able to live their lives in decent conditions. What we must do, essentially, is determine how we can ensure that everyone who lives in our country, regardless of their background, lives in dignified conditions.

To finance a decent life, more resources are also needed. Do you think Girona would function the same with 200,000 people?

— No, no, of course, absolutely. The debate about the country's growth is what we need. But we need increased resources for local governments. We must secure more resources because, otherwise, we won't be able to manage unlimited growth under the necessary conditions.

I'd like to take this opportunity to talk to you about another funding option, which is regional funding. A proposal was submitted a few weeks ago. What do you think?

— I think it falls far short. I can understand the dynamics of the party, the government, the support from everyone, and obviously, having more resources is better than having them. However, if Catalan separatism now has the capacity to make decisions in Madrid, I think we should be able to aspire to more than what we've achieved so far.

The pro-independence pact in Girona City Council is one of the exceptions following the last municipal elections. How do you assess this experience three years later?

— It's very positive. Especially given the current context. In Barcelona there's no budget, in the Catalan government there's no budget, and right now in Catalonia it's very difficult to reach solid governing agreements that allow us to move forward. And yet, in Girona, the pro-independence movement has united, worked hard, and managed to pass a budget year after year. We're demonstrating that when necessary, with generosity and a lot of hard work, the pro-independence movement is capable of reaching agreements and implementing public policies in the areas of housing, mobility, economic development, and culture that benefit the people.

Is this a formula that you believe should continue in Girona?

— I would like that. In any case, I think what's necessary is that before the elections, in this remaining year, we establish this common minimum program in areas such as housing, mobility, the Catalan language, national identity, and the Catalan minimum wage, so that when the elections in Girona and the other municipalities are over, we have a clear path forward.

Is the PSC your adversary?

— It's now clear they're engaging in highly destructive opposition without offering any clear proposals. We have different projects for the city, at a time when Girona is the only provincial capital not beholden to the interests of Spanish political parties.

Should the CUP negotiate with Salvador Illa's government?

— The CUP doesn't determine the governance of that country right now. However, I recall a housing agreement in which the CUP participated, and I think that's positive. Obviously, it doesn't guarantee stability, but on specific issues, it's interesting that some agreements can be reached, yes.

There is one year to go before the elections and some of its government partners are criticizing some decisions that have been made recently, for example Junts with the proliferation of bicycle rental shops in the city.

— We must understand that at this time, all parties want to explain their proposals for the future and, at times, want to define their profiles. The truth is, we've been working on an agreement in recent weeks regarding bicycle shops and other establishments, specifically to regulate what kind of businesses should be allowed in the Barri Vell (Old Quarter) and throughout the city. We will explain the agreement when it's finalized, but it will undoubtedly involve some limitations.

With waste management, they've ended up changing the system so residents don't have to choose a day to put out their trash. Did they make a mistake with the initial model?

— It's a contract that was approved before I became mayor, and reversing it would have been a huge financial burden for the City Council. After a few months, we realized its shortcomings and the difficulties it presented in ensuring 100% of the population could participate. We listened to the people of Girona and have put forward a proposal to make things easier for them in their daily lives. This change is an amendment, and there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that the City Council is correcting course. I'm convinced that this issue will have improved significantly before the end of my term.

To raise awareness about the need to recycle, are fines essential?

— Just as we fine people who ride motorcycles without helmets, seatbelts, or leave their dog's waste in the street and don't pick it up, this is part of civic responsibility. It's only logical that those who don't comply will receive a fine.

Having studied the Scottish case, how do you assess the decline in support for independence after the 2014 referendum?

— When a referendum is lost, it causes a decrease in support for the independence option, because people may not see it as viable or likely to win. But I also think that the reasons for independence movements in Quebec, Scotland, Catalonia, or the Basque Country remain, and therefore, they will resurface. In this sense, I would like to see an independentist, left-wing candidacy in the next Spanish elections that overcomes certain barriers currently in place.

What Gabriel Rufián is proposing, for example?

— I haven't quite understood what Gabriel Rufián is proposing, because what I'm talking about is a Catalan, pro-independence, left-wing candidacy that, linked to this minimum program we were proposing earlier, could win in Catalonia and, subsequently, steer the future Spanish government to the left and towards the objective it should have regarding future policies.

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