Pro-Spanish unity parties criticize 'failing government' and president's 'protagonism'

Salvador Illa, the Socialists' leader in the Catalan parliament, criticized that the Catalan president Pere Aragonès was aiming for "protagonism" with his opening speech on Tuesday in the annual general policy debate. 

Speaking in the parliament on Wednesday, Illa responded to Aragonès' speech the previous day when the president demanded that acting Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, set the conditions for a referendum within the next four years.

Ill also warned Aragonès to be careful not to rush into hasty decisions without consulting others. 

"It's not the time to race ahead and see who is playing the most important role and who looks best in the photo. We will think about the country and coexistence first. Less photos," Illa said.

"Be careful of going alone, it is not good for Catalonia. We are open to generosity but not ingenuity. To move forward coherently, with negotiation, with coexistence, with respect for everyone. Without doubting the plurality of Catalonia. We all back this, but going by yourselves, no," he added."

For Illa, Catalonia is not failing, but rather "the government is failing."

Vox: Catalans don't want amnesty

Ignacio Garriga, leader of far-right Vox in Catalonia, criticized the amnesty during his speech on Wednesday.

Garriga lashed out that pro-independence figures and the Socialists are negotiating a potential amnesty for those involved in the independence push, something he says is "only a priority for criminals, not for normal Catalans."

"Ordinary Catalans want other things, young people access to housing, parents free education to educate their children in the language they want, they want an end to daily crimes, and families want to reach the end of the month," he said.

Aragonès challenges unionists to accept referendum results

Pere Aragonès had the chance to respond to each party who spoke at the general policy debate. 

Speaking in the chamber, Aragonès posed the challenge to Socialist leader Illa of accepting the result of a self-determination referendum in Catalonia.

"I will do it. I don't know if you would be willing to take the risk," the ERC politician said.

The president insisted that citizens must be trusted to decide their future, underlining that the "best for the country" comes before personal and party interests.

New budget for 2024

Anti-austerity En Comú Podem party, in favor of letting Catalonia decide its future but not in favor of leaving Spain, called on Aragonès to ensure the mandate finishes "well," the party's spokesperson, Jéssica Albiach, said during her speech.

"Demonstrate that ending the mandate makes sense and that this has not been a procedural mandate," she added. For her, it would be "a great irresponsibility" not to look for a new budget for 2024, as they are open to negotiating. However, Aragonès "should not take things for granted, speaking in the name of others, or turning the negotiation into a race," she said in reference to the request by Catalan president Pere Aragonès to include an amnesty for all those related to the 2017 referendum if Spanish acting PM Pedro Sánchez wants to revalidate his title. 

During his response, the president said, "I do not speak in the name of others, but if someone hopes for me to stay away from a negotiation, they can continue waiting as it will not happen."

'Illegal amnesty'

Carlos Carrizosa of Ciudadanos accused the Socialist parties in Spain and Catalonia, of "plotting, with the sole aim of remaining in power, an illegal amnesty that alters our democratic reality."

"The possible investiture of Pedro Sánchez will end up seriously poisoning politics in Spain," he added.

The conservative People's Partys' Alejandro Fernández, has accused the pro-independence parties of being "manifestly incompetent."

Instead of blaming Spain, he said, "might it not be possible that the problem is that they are clearly incompetent, that they have a suboptimal political level?" he asked.