Leadership of pro-independence Junts unanimously backs breaking ties with Socialists

The national executive of the Catalan pro-independence party Junts has unanimously decided to break ties with Spain's ruling Socialists during an extraordinary meeting in Perpignan on Monday.

The move follows what Carles Puigdemont's party considers "breaches" of the agreement that secured Pedro Sánchez's reelection as Spanish PM.

The decision, after a meeting lasting around three and a half hours, will be put to a vote of the party membership on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

During a press conference, Carles Puigdemont, former Catalan president and Junts leader, said that a "deal cannot go through if agreements are not achieved, therefore it is a broken deal."

Puigdemont spoke for around 30 minutes and gave a detailed explanation on the several deadlines and agreements both the Socialists and Junts have been through.

"Unlike other parties, I insist that Junts is not open to continuing to help a government that does not help Catalonia. Nor this nor any other government.  Our political project is not based on maintaining stability in Spain. If it works for Catalonia, let’s talk about it. If not, goodbye," he said.

The Junts leader said that the party has "decided to break ties with the Socialists and take a role as part of the opposition."

Junts' seven MPs in the Spanish Congress will now be part of the opposition and not support the Socialists' proposals.

"The Spanish government will not have its investiture majority, it will not have the possibility to rule, it will have the power, but it will not be able to enforce it," Puigdemont said as a conclusion of his speech.

The Spanish government is a minority coalition that relies on the support of several parties, including Junts, to maintain a majority.

Junts issued several warnings in recent weeks threatening that "things could happen," as spokesperson Míriam Nogueras said last week. Meanwhile, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez had asked the Catalan party for "time."

Spain offers "dialogue"

Spain's First Vice President, María Jesús Montero, offered "dialogue" and an "extended hand" in response to Junts' national executive decision.

"It is up to [Junts] to explain the scope of the decisions they take today and how far they might go," she said in an interview with Spanish public broadcaster TVE on Monday.

There are areas where they disagree with Junts and others where they are aligned, generating "progress" for citizens, Montero said.

"This relationship with Junts always has its ups and downs, better moments and low points, but together we will be able to overcome this situation," she added.

Rising tensions

Monday's decision came after months of back-and-forth between the two parties, with Junts claiming that many initial agreements have not been fulfilled.

These include the full implementation of the amnesty law, not applied to Puigdemont, and the recognition of Catalan as an official EU language, a long-stalled issue in Brussels.

Last week in Congress, Junts spokesperson Míriam Nogueras raised the rhetoric against Sánchez.

She accused the Spanish PM of focusing on issues such as time zone changes or the conflict in Palestine while ignoring commitments made to the pro-independence party in 2023.

Nogueras also criticized his government for "persecuting" the self-employed and "blocking" Junts' legislative initiatives on squatting and repeat offenders.

"We should talk less about changing the clocks and start talking about how it's time for real change," she told the PM.

On Friday, Spain and Germany announced the beginning of bilateral negotiations to make Catalan an official language of the EU, but this has not proved enough to ease Junts' concerns.

Previous party votes

It is not the first time that Junts has put a key decision to a party vote. In 2023, over 86% of members on a 67% turnout voted in favour of the Brussels Agreement that enabled Pedro Sánchez's reelection as PM.

In October 2022, over 55% of Junts members (on a turnout of almost 80%) voted to leave the Catalan government led by Esquerra Republicana's Pere Aragonès.

Catalan president calls for "common sense"

Catalan President Salvador Illa defended Pedro Sánchez's Spanish government in an interview with RTVE-Radio 4 on Monday.

Illa called on Puigdemont's party to act with "common sense" and to prioritize the interests of Catalonia.

Illa, head of the Catalan Socialists, warned that the alternative to the current Socialist-led coalition in the Spanish Congress would be a "regressive" government.

He described Sánchez's administration as "positive" for Catalonia, arguing that it is fulfilling its commitments, including the approval of the amnesty and advancing the recognition of Catalan at the European level.

"The Spanish economy is the fastest-growing in Europe, and the Sánchez government is following through on its promises to other parties. Should we block that?" Illa asked.

He expressed hope that Junts will act with "common sense" and prioritize Catalonia and citizens' interests above political maneuvering.