In speech marking halfway point of legislature, president says 'third great transformation of Catalonia is underway'

Catalan president Salvador Illa took stock this Friday of the first half of his legislature, two years after taking over the government. 

Illa's election to the office marked a sharp shift in Catalan politics, as it was the first time that the government was led by an executive not seeking independence from Spain since 2010. 

The Socialist wanted to give a “positive” vision of the direction of his executive these years, and remarked that “the third great transformation of Catalonia is underway.”

For Illa, his two years in government represent “a great leap forward” for adequate “public services and infrastructures.”

Despite admitting problems with education and mobility, he has painted a very positive picture.

“We will solve these issues and we will have excellent mobility and education, and it won’t be long until that happens,” he said.

In a press conference, held just after landing back in the country from his trip to Vietnam and Singapore, the president placed housing policies as the most urgent issue on his agenda.

He believes that it is “the main concern” for himself and the executive council.

He also explainde that he believes he is fulfilling commitments to generate “shared prosperity” thanks to macroeconomic figures, employment data, and growth figures. “The most ambitious budget in the history of Catalonia has been approved, which allocates two out of every three euros to social policies,” he added.