Junts u-turn on no-confidence vote against far-right mayor, letting her stay in power

Junts have u-turned and will no longer support the motion of no confidence against Sílvia Orriols, the far-right mayor of Ripoll. The move means Orriols will remain in power in the Ripoll council.

In a statement, the national leadership and local representatives of Catalonia's largest pro-independence party state that the motion is "unfeasible."

They believe that, if it were to go ahead, it would increase the "victimism" of the Aliança Catalana leader, triggering a "social confrontation that would be difficult to resolve in the short term."

The latest development eliminates the possibility that the opposition could oust the far-right party from the Ripoll council, as they will not obtainin the nine votes needed to move forward with it.

Junts and ERC have led the negotiations up to this point as they have the most council members, with three each. 

The motion of no confidence was opened in January, and opposition parties then had 30 days to name a replacement administration in the Ripoll council. 

In a statement, Junts say they believe it is not the right time to present such a motion as they believe that citizens would not understand "replacing a minority government with another minority government."

They also consider that the motion would increase "the risk that the mayor will increase victimization and that she will incite a social confrontation that will be difficult to redirect, at least in the short term".

The pro-independence party says "we have already seen that Aliança Catalana is interested in this strategy and has no ethical limits to achieve its purpose."

The party also believes that the "alternative" government should be "strong, with great support and, therefore, the result of the majority will of the people of Ripoll."

Orriols' safisfaction

Sílvia Orriols expressed her satisfaction at the result of the process which will leave her in power in the Ripoll council.

The far-right pro-independence leader also celebrated that her party's budgets will be automatically approved on February 25.

"The motion of no confidence was a risky move and we have emerged victorious," she told the media.

For their part, opposition pro-independence parties ERC and CUP have accused Junts of breaking a pact that "just needed to be signed" and of once again blowing up an alternative government at the last minute, as happened after the municipal elections.