Pre-agreement between ERC and Socialists to name Salvador Illa Catalan president

Esquerra Republicana (ERC) and the Catalan Socialist Party have reached a preliminary agreement to name Socialist leader Salvador Illa the next Catalan president.

Sources from the pro-independence ERC say that the agreement, which comes after a near ten-hour meeting among Esquerra's leadership on Monday, is based on "economic solidarity" and will support the Catalan language.

The preliminary agreement will now go before the party's rank and file members who will vote internally on whether the party should go ahead with the deal. That vote will take place later this week, while party leadership hold consultations to explain the details of the pre-agreement between now and then. 

All the members of the party leadership played a part in the meeting on Monday, with some also expressing their doubts over the deal. 

The Catalan News Agency (ACN) understands that the deal has the involvement and approval of the Spanish government.

The pro-independence ERC and the pro-Spanish unity Socialists exchanged some of the final documents needed to seal the pre-agreement on Monday. 

In the last Catalan election, held in May, the Socialists won most votes and parliamentary seats, but fell short of a majority on their own. Yet, a broad left-wing coalition among the Socialists, Esquerra, and Comuns Sumar is possible. 

Financial model for Catalonia

Leaders of Esquerra have been holding out on Monday for the Socialists to accept "guarantees of compliance" for certain points, including guarantees for the future financing system for Catalonia.

The last Catalan government, led by Esquerra, proposed a new financial model that would envisage Catalonia collecting 100% of the tax income raised within the territory. The "singular financing" model would give the Catalan government "the key to the safe," amounting to around €52 billion per year, the sitting Minister of Economy and Finance, Natàlia Mas, said while announcing the proposal last March. 

If between Monday and Tuesday the pre-agreement is reached between the two parties, ERC will then put the text to their members to have the final say on later this week.

With this schedule, if the ERC rank and file validate the agreement, parliament speaker Josep Rull will then make contact with parties and call an investiture session in the middle of next week.