President Puigdemont: Catalonia’s push for independence “is for real”

Barcelona (CNA).- The Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, criticised this Wednesday during the first parliamentary session of control the difficulty of the Spanish politicians in reaching an agreement. Although he forecast that it will take a long time to have a new leader at the head of the Spanish executive, he wanted to warn the future Spanish government that Catalonia’s push for independence “is for real”. “You realised too late” he added, addressing Spain’s future executive. During this Wednesday’s plenary session an extension of the public budget for 2015 has been approved, thanks to 5 votes in favour and 4 abstentions from radical left pro-independence CUP. Both pro-independence forces in the Parliament, cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and CUP, described this extension as “fundamental” to launching the social action plan. 

“Spain is changing but not necessarily for good” stated Puigdemont. The Catalan President criticised the difficulty of the Spanish politicians in reaching an agreement. “They don’t know how to form government because they don’t know how to deal with political complexity" he assured and recommended that Spanish politicians “take note of how things have been done in Catalonia”. Puigdemont also addressed the future Spanish executive and warned that “Catalonia’s push for independence is for real”.

The framework to start the disconnection process

The two main pro-independence forces in the Parliament, cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and radical left CUP, have showed their unity this Wednesday in some of the Parliament’s votes. Both parties have handed over an application to start creating the necessary framework for the disconnection process to take place. In particular, they have requested the creation of three laws: one on social measures, a second on the Catalan tax office and a third on the legal transition.

CUP MP Benet Salellas appeared before the media and highlighted the importance of “starting to work” on the pro-independence proposal approved by the Parliament on the 9^th of November. He also wanted to recall that this document established that within 30 days of the new government being constituted the debate on these laws could be started. Both pro-independence forces expressed their wish for these laws to be started from zero and by creating groups which will be open to all the other parties in the Catalan chamber.

Extension of the 2015 public budget approved

Although the budgetary extension came into effect on the 1^st of January, it still needed to be endorsed by the Parliament. However, Catalan vice president and Minister for Economy Oriol Junqueras urged the elaboration of a new budget “as soon as possible”. The extension could finally be approved thanks to 5 votes in favour and 4 abstentions from radical left pro-independence CUP. Both pro-independence forces in the Parliament, cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and CUP, described this extension as “fundamental” to launching the social action plan.

The other forces in the Catalan Chamber, anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans, the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), the Catalan People’s Party (PPC) and alternative left coalition ‘Catalunya Sí que es Pot’ voted against the extension, describing it as “a blank cheque”.