The former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya José Montilla defends that the reform of the Criminal Code also includes a modification of the crime of embezzlement, in line with what was expressed by the head of the Spanish executive, Pedro Sánchez, who yesterday opened to expand the criminal reform. The former socialist leader is committed to initiatives that lead to "the reunion and the entente", but emphasizes that it is necessary to find the key to avoid "collateral effects" with which those convicted of corruption benefit.
"I want the formulas to be found to help the entente process," Montilla said in statements to TV3. Even so, he asks to do it in a way that does not have "unwanted" effects, allowing those convicted of the Gürtel case, for example, to get out of jail. He has warned that the laws sometimes have unforeseen implications, referring to the "only yes is yes", with which penalties have been reduced.
With the reform of the Criminal Code, sedition will be repealed and it remains to be seen now if embezzlement is also touched. Together with the pardons, Montilla considers that they are "positive steps to break the polarization" and facilitate large majorities that "work together from different positions." He warns, yes, that the independence movement is not going to disappear completely with these agreements between governments.
José Montilla's words come after the position established by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who yesterday opened the door to review the embezzlement, at the same time that he made it clear that in no case would this represent a "regression" in the fight against the corruption. This reform is at the expense of the amendment that ERC presents to the bill, which has time until Friday to register it in the Congress of Deputies. From there, the PSOE will define its official position on the amendment.
Along the same lines, the Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, spoke this morning, defending that the Penal Code is "in constant evolution" and that it does not serve to resolve political issues. In addition, she considers that this type of measure responds to the Government's "commitment to coexistence" in Catalonia. Robles has marked as a "red line" not to support modifications that decriminalize their own enrichment or that of third parties. The head of Justice, Pilar Alegría, has reiterated that "no step back" will be taken against corruption and, like Robles, she has asked to wait to see the ERC amendment and then study what position they should adopt.
