Committee to set the pro-independence roadmap officially constituted

Barcelona (CNA).- The Parliament’s legislative action has kicked off this Thursday with the constitution of the 29 committees of this term of office. One of the most controversial is the Study Committee for the Constitutive Process, which is being taken before the court by the Spanish government. Its president Muriel Casals, who is the former president of Òmnium Cultural, the cultural association promoting the Catalan language and culture, described the committee as a place “to share and contrast different opinions”. The Catalan People’s Party (PPC), the only unionist party to take part in the committee, considers it “a fraud”. Another committee which is in the Spanish executive’s headlights is the Committee for Foreign Affairs, due to its alleged violation of some of the Spanish government’s competences. 15 of the 29 committees will be led by ‘Junts Pel Sí’, anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans will be in charge of 5, the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) will head 3 committees and the other three groups in the Catalan chamber will lead 2 committees each.

The constitution of the Study Committee for the Constitutive Process has been one of the most controversial topics. Although its President Muriel Casals expressed her hope to make it a space “to share and contrast different opinions” and called for “stimulating confrontation” within the Committee, anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans and the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) have refused to take part in it. The Catalan People’s Party (PPC) agreed to participate in the Committee, however MP Esperança García described the committee as “a fraud”. She also stated that she considered it “amoral” to constitute a committee which aims to “disobey” the democratic laws. Ciutadans MP Fernando de Páramo assured that his group will keep a “watchful” attitude towards the Committee and insinuated that some of Ciutadans’ members may attend some of the Committee’s sessions if they consider it necessary.

Committee for Foreign Affairs also constituted

One of the first committees to be constituted was the committee which is in the Spanish executive’s headlights, the Committeefor Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Institutional Relations and Transparency. Pro-independence cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ member Marta Pascal has been designated as the committee’s president and she assured that the Committee aims to be “a vivid reflection of Catalan society”. Regarding the possible suspension of the Catalan Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which the Spanish government has decided to take before the court, Pascal expressed her hope for “parliamentary cordiality to reign”. She also stated that she expected the prompt appearance of the Catalan Minister for Foreign Affairs to explain the Committee’s agenda.

‘Junts Pel Sí’ in charge of 15 of the 29 committees

15 of the 29 committees will be led by ‘Junts Pel Sí’, anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans will be in charge of 5, the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) will head 3 committees and the other three groups in the Catalan chamber will lead 2 committees each. 

The first committee to be constituted was that for Governance, Public Administration and Housing, presided over by radical left pro-independence CUP member Joan Garriga. CUP also heads the Study Committee for Corruption.

The Committee for Institutional Affairs, which is considered to be the one with the most political significance, has also been constituted and anti-Catalan Ciutadans MP Jean Castel is to head it. This committee has been set up to control the Catalan Corporation of Audio-visual Media and is normally led by the main party in the opposition.

Former Catalan Minister for Universities and Research, ‘Junts Pel Sí’s Antoni Castellà, will preside over the Committee for Economy. The Committee for Health will be chaired by Alba Vergès (left-wing ERC, integrated into ‘Junts Pel Sí’) and the former Catalan Minister for Justice will be in charge of the Committee for Justice. ‘Junts Pel Sí’ MP Bernat Solé will be president of the Committee for Employment and another ‘Junts Pel Sí’ member, Magda Casamitjana, will be in charge of the Committee for Social Affairs.

The Committee for Education will be led by PSC MP Rafel Bruguera. Ciutadans MP Matías Alonso will be in charge of the Committee for Home Affairs.