ERC rejects the PSC taking the presidency of the Parliament if Borràs is disqualified

It is not expected that the judgment of the trial against Laura Borràs will take long to be made public.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
06 March 2023 Monday 06:25
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ERC rejects the PSC taking the presidency of the Parliament if Borràs is disqualified

It is not expected that the judgment of the trial against Laura Borràs will take long to be made public. Esquerra remains prudent and prefers to wait for the decision of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) before studying any option, whether it is about the possible candidate to replace the president of the Parliament in case she is disqualified, as if she should Receive financial compensation of 80% of salary if convicted of a crime linked to corruption. But there is one aspect that the Republicans are clear about: that, if necessary, her position should not be occupied by the PSC. In fact, the debate on the possible replacement of her is seen by those of Oriol Junqueras as an opportunity to rebuild bridges with Junts and the pro-independence majority.

"We will always work in favor of redoing the agreements that are possible and in this case and pending the sentence of President Borràs we have to talk to Junts and that the presidency should fall to the pro-independence majority and that is evident that rules out the PSC ", stated the deputy general secretary, Marta Vilalta, during today's press conference after the ordinary meeting on Monday.

The also spokesperson has stated that her formation is predisposed to speak specifically with Junts per Catalunya to see if it is possible to reconstitute agreements and consensus with the pro-independence majority in Parliament. And if it is about reconstituting previous pacts, such as the one signed by ERC and Junts for the investiture of Pere Aragonès in exchange for leaving the presidency of the Catalan Chamber in the hands of JxCat, the Republicans point to the renewal by the post-convergents in the position of the second authority in Catalonia. Vilalta has named Junts as a "priority partner, like the CUP".

In addition, ERC's rejection of the PSC on this issue is mutual. The Socialists completely rule out that the Republicans take over the presidency of Parliament if Borràs is convicted, although they have also indicated that today it is not a priority issue for their formation.

With regard to the compensation of 80% of the salary for four years that Borràs could receive as established in the Statute of former presidents, Vilalta remains much more prudent. "We have to wait for the sentence and then we will make the necessary decisions, including regulatory changes," said the ERC leader. The Republicans distance themselves with clearer positions, such as those of the PSC and the commons, which, as La Vanguardia advanced on Friday, are willing to propose the withdrawal before a sentence for crimes related to corruption, both of that economic allocation and 60% of the salary for the retirement of ex-presidents. Some deletions to which the CUP would join.

However, with respect to the economic compensation of 80%, the debate would be served, since the law specifies that she should have "exercised" as president for two years. Borràs was suspended from her position and as a deputy in July of last year, one year and five months after assuming it.