President defends 'new era' has begun in Catalonia with 'all odds in favor'

The last cabinet meeting of the year agreed on the government's plan for this term, focusing on singular financing, policies to tackle the housing crisis, and most of the agreements made with other political parties for Salvador Illa to be named president.

"A new era has begun," Illa said during a press conference after the cabinet meeting on Monday. He ruled out judging the first four months of the government as "very early" and hoped that the cabinet would "last."

Catalonia has "all odds in favor" after the May 12 election, which saw the Socialist party win the most seats, prompting it to reach agreements with left-wing Comuns Sumar and pro-independence Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya to see Illa sworn in as president.

As Illa said during the press conference, the government is "working to see a situation that will overcome all of the times of suffering" that Catalonia has experienced in recent years for "many people from different political positions."

When asked if he would meet with former president Carles Puigdemont, who is currently based in Belgium after leaving Catalonia in 2017 and briefly returning in August this year, Illa did not rule out a possible meeting. He wants Puigdemont to return to the territory, leaving open the possibility of the gathering in Belgium hanging.

"When I talk about a new era, I am talking about overcoming all this suffering. That doesn't mean that anyone should reject their ideals, but let's get over the times that were not good and caused suffering for many," Illa said.

"I would like for Puigdemont to be here in Catalonia and for him to enjoy what the Socialists members of Congress voted for: a new era with an amnesty law," Illa added, quoting former president Josep Tarradellas when saying: "Catalonia is big enough for everyone, and small enough for everyone to be important."

2025 budget

Salvador Illa's government begins 2025 without a spending plan in motion. Still, the cabinet will do "everything that is necessary and required" for the territory to have a new budget next year.

"We do not have a majority in parliament, and we will not halt talks between political parties," he said during the same press conference.

Despite the proximity of the new year, the president said that "there is no urgency" and that the executive will "respect the times required by all political groups."

In January, finance minister Alícia Romero will meet with parliamentary groups and civil society organizations to continue working on the 2025 spending plan.