Five days before the elections and faced with the uncertain map that may emerge on March 12, the PP has today stressed its willingness to get involved in the governance of Catalonia if the polls grant it decision-making capacity. An implication that, according to the president of the party Alberto Núñez Feijóo and the candidate Alejandro Fernández, must serve to end the tripartite -PSC, Junts, ERC- on which the process pivots. “We are going to rise to the occasion,” said the Catalan leader.
These reflections were raised at the Barcelona Tribuna Forum, where Feijóo wanted to act as Alejandro Fernández's presenter and where they made two complementary speeches. The president of the PP has indicated that it is necessary to break the framework in which it seems that Catalans are forced to choose between three formations that say they will not agree -PSC, Junts and ERC- but that de facto are in the power of all the institutions . He has called, therefore, to break with this “loop” idea of the tripartite, to which he links a process of “progressive decline” not only economic but also social in Catalonia.
Continuing with this line, Alejandro Fernández has highlighted his intention to play the governance card fully if the results allow it. “We have a vocation to govern and to be decisive,” he said, with the aim of starting a new stage that will allow the process to end.
When asked later in the framework of the colloquium if this would mean supporting an investiture of Salvador Illa, the candidate explained that this previously presupposes mutual “trust and seriousness”, and the commitment of the socialists to break all pacts with Junts and ERC. A complex scenario if the governability of Spain is taken into account.
The PP's commitment, which it outlines in the campaign, has been expressed more clearly today. The change in “framework” that Feijóo has explained would be what would be required to be able to offer support to governability.
Break the tripartite system - on which the governability of Spain is also based - he said, so that Catalans no longer have to be forced to choose between the Statute or independence, between Catalan or Castilian, between continuing or not in Spain… A framework for debate that the popular reject.
Both Feijóo and Alejandro Fernández have made extensive reference to the management model they offer, with a very critical analysis of the situation in Catalonia as a result of “a decade of processes.” The president of the PP has proposed developing a “manifesto against resignation” so that Catalonia regains leadership. A programmatic manifesto that, among other issues, defends a tax reduction as a formula to return investments, a slimming down of the administration, a change in the educational model and an increase in security and measures against illegal occupation.
The colloquium has been organized by the Barcelona Economic Society Amics del País, chaired by Miquel Roca, the AED (Spanish Association of Managers) and La Vanguardia. It was attended by Javier Godó, Count of Godó, editor of La Vanguardia, and the senior staff of the PP. As a culmination of the colloquium, and asked if a popular pact like the ones held with CiU would be possible, Alejandro Fernández responded ironically that this would be possible if Carles Puigdemont transformed into Miquel Roca.
