Priority is to form government, says jailed leader

The jailed leader of Esquerra Republicana (ERC) and deposed vice-president Oriol Junqueras has insisted that the priority in Catalonia is to form a government.

In an interview published on Monday in ‘El Confidencial’ Junqueras also said that dialogue with  the Spanish government is “indispensable,” stating that if it does not occur it would be due to the refusal of Mariano Rajoy’s government in Madrid.

Regarding the need to form a government in Catalonia, he insisted that it’s what a vast majority of Catalans want. He said that over names or parties, what should matter most is to have a common project.

He accepted that in order to achieve social and political structural changes, “a political and social majority” is necessary, admitting that this “requires more time.”

He also said that the current situation is “very delicate,” asserting that he is not allowing himself “the luxury of falling into provocations,” given that some parties “seem more interested in breaking society than promoting dialogue.”

Junqueras, who has been  in prison in the Madrid region since November 2 last year remains hopefull nonetheless, that these “tougher” moments will be overcome. “In the end, democracy always wins,” he concluded.