Catalan vice president says he doesn’t have ‘much hope’ in Spanish government

The vice president of the Catalan government and minister of economy, Pere Aragonès, has stated that he doesn’t have “much hope” for the Spanish government, and describes himself as  a"pessimist” with the political will of the executive of Pedro Sànchez related to its relationship with Catalonia and the independence movement. 

In an interview with the Punt Avui TV, Aragonès stated that the governing Socialist party (PSOE) and newly appointed Spanish president Pedro Sánchez “are what they are” and that the composition of the executive is “fairly clear.” The parties in favor of a Catalan state bitterly criticized the nomination of Spanish ministers, especially that of Josep Borrell, a strong critic of the Catalan independence movement.

Therefore, Aragonès is not hopeful of a major change of attitude of the Spanish authorities towards the independence push his government is maintaining. Meritxell Batet, minister of regional policy in Spain, said that Pedro Sánchez will go through 45 out of 46 proposals that the deposed Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, brought up to his former Spanish counterpart, Mariano Rajoy, two years ago. The one out of discussion is the call for an independence referendum agreed between Catalonia and Spain. 

Aragonès also stressed that the Catalan government is not giving up on achieving independence without an agreement with Spain. “There’s going to be a moment when it will be necessary to make steps forward, even if the State doesn’t agree,” said the minister. He added that the executive “hasn’t given up on any path,” and that "all tools are ready.”