Sánchez suggests a “political agreement with Catalonia” as part of reform of the Spanish Constitution

Barcelona (CNA).- The Spanish Socialists’ leader, Pedro Sánchez, aims to reach a “political agreement with Catalonia” in the framework of the Spanish Constitution’s reform. This is one of the proposals which constitute the document “Commitments for a ‘yes’ to the government of change” presented this Monday by the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE). According to Sánchez, this agreement would be bilateral and would “recognise” Catalonia’s “singularity” and “improve its self-government” while always “respecting the implications of the principle of equality”. However, Sánchez didn’t specify whether this agreement would imply a new Statute of Autonomy for Catalonia. Sánchez also committed to promoting a reform of the funding scheme of the Autonomous Communities which would start in the next two months.

The 18-page-long document aims to be PSOE’s roadmap towards his ruling plan and also a guide to the possible post-electoral agreements which may occur. The Socialists suggest six agreements to be reached with the other political parties in order to guarantee “a fair economic recovery”, join efforts in renewing the education system, take a stance against gender violence, support “institutional and political renewal”, and provide support for “reconstructing the welfare state” and “for Europe”.

The last point of the six is “a preliminary agreement on the content of the constitutional reform”. According to the document, this reform would be “partial” and would be reached through “a collective agreement” with “the greatest consensus possible” and “according to the rules and procedures foreseen”.

The aim of the constitutional reform is to “change our arrangement to an advanced democracy, which would be participative and in accordance with today’s needs and those of the upcoming decades”.

According to PSOE, the reform has to recognise “at least the new rights and freedoms, the incorporation of the European rights, the constitutional guarantee of social rights, the safeguarding of the welfare state regarding the fulfilment of the obligation of budgetary stability and the transformation of the model of the State into a federal one”.

“In the framework of this constitutional reform and to be approved consequently by all Spanish citizens”, PSOE’s leader proposed “a political agreement with Catalonia, which while respecting the implications of the principle of equality, would recognise its singularity and improve its self-government”.

PSOE blames Rajoy for responding with “silence and the Court” to Catalonia

The document presented by the Spanish Socialists blames current Spanish President, Mariano Rajoy, for having left a “distressing situation” and being “incapable” of resolving the economic, social, political and institutional crisis in Spain. Sánchez also accused Rajoy of having not managed the political situation in Catalonia properly, as the Spanish government has responded “with silence and the Court” at the “risk of breaking the historic coexistence with an essential part of Spain such as Catalonia”.