Pro-independence 'Junts Pel Sí' proposes to create three government commissions

Barcelona (CNA).- Almost two months after the 27-S Catalan elections, the negotiations between the two main pro-independence forces in the Parliament over constituting a new government are still ongoing. Radical left CUP have repeatedly stated that they won't re-elect Artur Mas as President and suggested that cross-party 'Junts Pel Sí' present an alternative candidate. Following this, 'Junts Pel Sí' presented this Thursday a new proposal: to create three "government commissions" led by left-wing ERC leader Oriol Junqueras, current Catalan vice-president Neus Munté and 'Junts Pel Sí' top member former MEP Raül Romeva. This would keep Mas as the Catalan President but he would be joined by a "Presidency's Board" with delegated competences. The proposal also suggests holding a vote of confidence in 10 months' time to evaluate the evolution of the agreement.

In a communiqué, 'Junts Pel Sí' stated that their proposal aims to keep the President’s role with the usual attributes and name a vice-president which would lead one of the three government commissions, in particular that for the Economy and Occupation. This portfolio would include responsibility for areas related to the Economy, Business and Knowledge, Territory and Sustainability, Agriculture and Occupation and Social Affairs.

The second commission would be Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relationships and Transparency. This would include Foreign Affairs and Institutional Relationships, Government, Home Affairs and Justice. 

Finally, the commission for Social Welfare would include the Health, Education and Culture departments.

Although it is still not clear who would lead each of these areas, the most likely outcome is that Oriol Junqueras would be named as vice-president and be responsible for the Economy department, Raül Romeva would lead the Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relationships and Transparency department and current Catalan vice-president and Minister for Social Affairs Neus Munté would probably be in charge of the commission for Social Welfare.

A proposal to highlight the "shared responsibility"

During the second session of the investiture debate, Artur Mas already proposed a "collegiate government" where there would be "three areas" besides the presidency. The novelty is that the proposal presented this Thursday would consider the head of each area a "President" and together the three presidents would constitute a "Presidency's board". This body, coordinated by President Mas, would have the transition to an independent state as its main duty and would in 10 months' time  be put to a confidence vote to evaluate the evolution of the agreement. The aim is to highlight the "shared responsibility" of the new government, a trait that radical left CUP pointed out as "necessary" to reach an agreement. 

CUP declared last week that once a new proposal from 'Junts Pel Sí' would be on the table, they will start an internal consultation process with all the territorial factions. They will then put it to vote amongst their members in an extraordinary assembly, probably to be held on the 29th of November.