Catalan Socialists urge new government to show “it can be trusted”

The leader of the Catalan Socialists (PSC), Miquel Iceta, urged the new government in Catalonia to show "it can be trusted." In comments to the press he asked for a "clear statement" from the Quim Torra executive saying that their plans "do not include a willingness to violate the law." The former Catalan government was sacked by Madrid after holding a vote on independence and declaring a Catalan Republic in Parliament.

Iceta avoided "speculating" about a possible release of Catalan former ministers currently in jail in Madrid, or even the fact that they could be transferred to prisons closer to their homes. "We are in a very delicate judicial moment and even speculation about some issues could be wrongly understood or counter-productive," he said.

Catalan parties supported Spanish Socialist (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez's motion of no-confidence against Mariano Rajoy last week. The Catalan justice minister, Ester Capella, said that transferring the prisoners to jails closer to their homes is in the hands of the new Spanish government.

One of the other issues at stake is lifting financial intervention in Catalonia. Over the weekend, the new Economy minister of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, said that this control will be lifted today, as the new government is already in place. However, PSOE officials in Madrid said control might continue. According to Iceta, a commitment by the Torra government to respect the law would help lifting the financial intervention.