ERC and Junts agree to invest Sánchez only if he takes steps towards a referendum

Since the general elections of last July 23, ERC and Junts have not agreed to join forces in the negotiation of an eventual investiture of Pedro Sánchez.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
28 September 2023 Thursday 11:39
7 Reads
ERC and Junts agree to invest Sánchez only if he takes steps towards a referendum

Since the general elections of last July 23, ERC and Junts have not agreed to join forces in the negotiation of an eventual investiture of Pedro Sánchez. In nothing Until yesterday The two pro-independence formations agreed that they will reject the re-election of the leader of the PSOE as president of the government if he does not first commit to setting a framework for an independence referendum.

But the first agreement between republicans and post-convergents has also led to the first disagreement with the socialists. The PSOE and the PSC criticized the initiative hours later through a statement. Make a hole to cover another.

Specifically, the proposal requires a future government of Sánchez to "commit to work to make the conditions for the holding of the referendum" of self-determination effective, without this implying that it must be done during the next mandate of the leader of the PSOE.

The two groups started from distant positions. So much so that the two former members of the Government of the Generalitat had registered in Parliament on Wednesday proposed resolutions on amnesty and self-determination in the framework of the general policy debate. But at a time when the two formations are negotiating with the PSOE so that an amnesty law is approved in Congress as a currency of the investiture, today they arrive at the plenary session with a joint resolution, to which it has also been added the CUP, related to amnesty and the other one already mentioned regarding self-determination, from which the anti-capitalists have distanced themselves.

Junts did not like the initial text of the republicans because of the role given to the Executive of Pere Aragonès in relation to the amnesty and the negotiation, while the text of the post-convergents contained "nuances" on who would benefit from the measure that would not convince those of Oriol Junqueras. Finally, a wording has been sought in which the three pro-independence formations are comfortable and the proposed resolution will go ahead thanks to the pro-independence majority. It remains to be seen whether the commons also vote in favor of it.

The basis of the amnesty text sealed by ERC, Junts and the CUP is the proposal that all three presented to the Congress of Deputies and that was rejected by the Bureau at the beginning of 2021. The law should include "all people retaliated for political reasons in this case and in defense of rights and freedoms in the context of social and political conflict with the Spanish State". Sources from ERC and the CUP maintain that this leaves out Laura Borràs, president of Junts.

Junts, on the other hand, consider that a "minimum agreement" has been reached and express their satisfaction at the fact that it is clear that it is up to the groups in Madrid to lead the negotiations with the PSOE.

Although there is coordination and understanding on this issue, Junts also foresees the approval of another resolution referring to the weakness of the Aragonese Executive and the "lack of confidence" of the Catalan Chamber in the Government and in the president, just like the socialists. There has been no transaction on this point between the PSC and Junts, but it is possible that the two resolutions will be approved with the contest of some other group.

ERC did not like the initiative. Junqueras, president of the formation, was upset by the attitude of the socialists. Not only because of the admonition to Aragonès, but also because of the decision of Salvador Illa to vote against the amnesty in Parliament. "The PSC will know whether or not its decisions contribute to creating this climate of trust", pointed out the leader of the Left, in a clear warning about the consequences it could have in the negotiations to invest Sánchez.