MP replaced in parliament bureau after self-determination motions 'nonsense' remarks

Pro-independence Junts per Catalunya party intend to replace MP Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas for fellow lawmaker Aurora Madaula in the Catalan parliament bureau.

This comes after Cuevillas, who had been elected for the post on March 12, made some remarks that caused a stir within his party.

The lawyer said in a recent interview with 'Vilaweb' daily that he was against the bureau accepting for consideration symbolic motions – without legal binding consequences – against the Spanish crown or in favor of self-determination with the risk of being disqualified from public office afterwards.

"What is more effective in order to grind Spain down? Denouncing it or let ourselves be disqualified from public office without a fuss for some nonsense?," he asked.

"Intelligent confrontation"

After facing criticism, Cuevillas tweeted a letter on Monday in which he said he was "imprudent" when using the word 'nonsense,' but added that he wants to hold an "intelligent confrontation" with Spain.

"I have not given up, nor will I ever do it, to stand up for citizens' fundamental rights and the democratic principles that every society should be able to enjoy. But as a lawyer with a strategic mentality, I am in favor of facing each battle strategically," he added.

Yet, his remarks were not enough to persuade his party: the parliament speaker Laura Borràs, together with the party president Carles Puigdemont and secretary general Jordi Sànchez, decided to replace him in the bureau, although he will keep his seat.

Junts could lose one member in bureau

They intend to replace him for Madaula, but all MPs have to vote on the swap. Left-wing En Comú Podem, which did not obtain any representative in the bureau, are seeking supports to make the most of the situation and get on of their MPs, Lucas Ferro, in the institution that governs over the chamber. 

Pro-independence Esquerra, in coalition government talks with Junts, has not anticipated their stance in this affair yet. 

Junts in favor of declarative motions

Cuevillas' remarks are inconsistent with the official line of the party, which has stood for "defending the parliament's sovereignty" with such declarative motions.

For instance, in August 2020, the chamber passed one stating that "Catalonia is republican and, therefore, does not recognize or want to have any king." Yet, this was not published in the official gazette after Spain's Constitutional Court had warned that such motions were illegal.

Junts then criticized the then parliament speaker, Esquerra's Roger Torrent, for vetoing its publication.

However, the High Court of Catalonia (TSJC) is investigating Torrent for allowing lawmakers to vote motions against the Spanish monarchy and in support of Catalonia’s self-determination one year earlier, in the fall of 2019.