PSOE and Junts separately staged yesterday a pact that opens a new stage to resolve the political conflict in Catalonia. They did so by recognizing the profound differences that separate them in a four-page document in which they outline what Santos Cerdán and Carles Puigdemont emphasized as an “opportunity” and opens the way towards “a historic agreement” with which the investiture of Pedro Sánchez and stability will be given to the entire legislature. As long as what was agreed is complied with.
It hasn't been an easy road. Negotiations between the two parties began in the summer shortly after the agreement reached for the presidency of Congress, held by the socialist Francina Armengol. Since then, the meetings of the negotiating teams have multiplied and there have been several attempts to present an agreement that in the end was not forged until yesterday, 9-N, a symbolic date for the post-convergents that takes them back to the 2014 consultation.
The document signed by the organization secretary of the PSOE, Santos Cerdán, and the general secretary of Junts, Jordi Turull, establishes the path by which the relations of the two parties should be guided during the next legislature.
A pact, which conditions parties and not governments, that frames the possible solutions to resolve the conflict within the Constitution and the Statute. Both parties are urged to jointly seek a resolution that “must be negotiated and agreed upon.” Words repeated throughout the text.
The profound differences that both Cerdán and later Carles Puigdemont mentioned in their press conference, in a subsequent intervention without questions, are very present throughout the text. Thus, for example, it is recognized that while Junts validates the declaration of independence of October 27, 2017, the PSOE "denies all legality."
Regarding the possibility of holding a self-determination referendum, Junts proposes agreeing on it throughout the legislature, “protected by article 92 of the Constitution.” The PSOE, for its part, establishes the legal framework for this aspiration in “developing” the appropriate legal mechanisms, the Statute and in the institutions of self-government.
For Puigdemont, the alliance represents a new “unprecedented stage.” In his speech he warned that they have not needed to “apologize” and sent numerous implicit messages to his competitor in Catalonia, ERC, demonstrating that the dispute over the independence space is more alive than ever.
“The ‘in exchange for nothing’ has gone to the trash can of history,” said the former president, in clear allusion to the criticism launched by Junts to the negotiations held by the Republicans and Socialists in the previous legislature. At the same time, he warned that support for the socialists in the next four years is subject to compliance with all agreements and for this the figure of the international verifier is introduced. A commitment that the Republicans also made both for the dialogue table between the Government and the Generalitat and for the parties. The spaces for dialogue with both ERC and Junts are multiplying.
For their part, the Republicans responded to Puigdemont's words and the agreement by “welcoming” Junts to the negotiating process. They were cautious when evaluating the pact in public, although some sources described it as “poor” after the negotiations between the two parties and Junts' attempts to become the sole protagonists of the negotiation. However, ERC keeps the door open to coordinate with the post-convergent parties in Madrid to materialize the agreements reached.
As a result of this willingness to negotiate on the part of the two pro-independence parties, yesterday Republicans and post-convergents decided to take a stand and abstain in Parliament during the vote on a CUP motion that sought to promote a law for a self-determination referendum as a “previous step” to its call before the end of the legislature. The proposal ultimately did not go forward thanks to these abstentions.
The agreement with Junts, as had already happened with that of ERC, sets the text of the future amnesty. The names of the beneficiaries were not mentioned, and Cerdán assured that it will be the judges who will end up deciding who deserves criminal oblivion, while Puigdemont reiterated that the law agreed upon by his group "will not leave anyone behind."
The future regulations cover a period from January 1, 2012 to November 8, 2023 and are expected to be registered in Congress next Monday, once the allied groups of the PSOE give their approval. Then, for Wednesday and Thursday, the debate to invest Pedro Sánchez is planned.
Before reaching the goal, the PSOE will have to work hard in the negotiations with the PNV. The socialists left the formation led by Andoni Ortuzar for last and it could cost them dearly for supporting Sánchez. On the table is non-compliance with the Guernica Statute and the transfer of the management of Social Security. The jetzals now say that they are in no hurry, and this could be their negotiating force to collect the pact. However, the PSOE hopes to reach an alliance today to definitively clear the path to the investiture.
A debate that is expected to be bitter due to the political climate that is in the air these days. With daily protests with altercations in the vicinity of the Ferraz headquarters, demonstrations called next Sunday in all cities and the harsh criticism launched by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who compared the agreement with the independentists with 23-F or ETA. Isabel Díaz Ayuso was also not far behind when she assured that “a dictatorship has been sneaked in through the back door.” Santiago Abascal spoke along the same lines, calling for “civil resistance.”
All the judges' associations joined this rejection yesterday, launching a harsh statement against the agreement due to the mention of "lawfare or judicialization of politics." The clash between the Government and the judiciary is reaching a conflictive point and may mark the future of the amnesty law and the passage of the legislature.
