Catalan VP: “We are all committed to the referendum”
Catalan VP, Oriol Junqueras, insisted this Wednesday on the pro-independence parties’ commitment to calling a referendum this September. He underscored the unity within the group despite the fact that some representatives from the main parties within the governing Junts Pel Sí coalition had expressed differing positions regarding how the referendum should be carried out. While pro-independence left-wing ERC’s Marta Rovira announced that a task force of unemployed persons could be organized to carry out referendum-related tasks, the Catalan Government’s Spokeswoman, Neus Munté, said this was a decision that “is not part of the Government’s plans”. “We are all committed to the referendum and we are going to do it together,” said Junqueras, playing down the disagreement.
Barcelona (CNA).- The Catalan Government is committed to calling a referendum in September this year and the variety of suggestions on how to carry it out doesn’t imply disunity among the pro-independence parties. These are the main ideas which Catalan VP, Oriol Junqueras, wanted to make clear this Wednesday. Thus, he played down the conflicting statements between governing spokeswoman for Junts Pel Sí, Marta Rovira, and the spokeswoman for the Catalan Government, Neus Munté, regarding the possibility of hiring unemployed people to organize referendum-related duties. “We are absolutely aware that we have to work for all citizens as well as guarantee their right to vote,” said Junqueras.
In a similar vein, Catalan European Democratic Party PDeCAT’s General coordinator, Marta Pascal, called on coalition members to defend the unity among pro-independence parties and to avoid airing disagreements in public. “We have to accept that there will be differences of opinions and that there are things which should be improved. Nevertheless, everyone has to do their homework,” she said in a interview with Ràdio 4 this Wednesday.
The Catalan President himself insisted on avoiding projecting an image of disunity, since it belies weaknesses in the Government’s strategy. This idea was immediately supported by VP Junqueras. After making this recommendation during this Tuesday’s Executive council meeting, Puigdemont set up a meeting with the pro-independence forces to discuss the plan for the referendum. Although they already meet regularly to share ideas, this Tuesday’s meeting comes after pro-independence radical left CUP recently pressed the Government to agree on a date and question for the referendum as soon as possible.