The arithmetic in Congress is what makes the opportunity historic for Catalonia. Pere Aragonès is convinced of this and to squeeze it to the maximum, yesterday afternoon he convened the Government in an extraordinary way to develop measures to guarantee compliance with ERC’s requirements. Amnesty is the flag of pacts. They accompany the transfer of Rodalies and the remission of 15,000 million euros of debt. But it is in this last area, in the economic area, that the most outstanding measure taken yesterday is to be found: the president has instructed Natàlia Mas, Minister of Economy, to draw up a unique and specific financing proposal for Catalonia.
It has a three-month deadline. Afterwards, the Catalan Executive intends to bring this project to the dialogue table between the Spanish and Catalan governments. The Government is determined to leave the common regional financing system and that its model resembles or comes as close as possible to that of the Basque Country or Navarre.
The proposal, as explained by the head of the Government, will start from the idea that Catalonia collects all its own taxes “to put an end to the fiscal deficit”, which Economia estimated at 22,000 million euros in 2021 alone. But it will also have to propose mechanisms to be able to ensure compliance with the investments committed by the State to Catalonia.
Aragonès wants the Generalitat to take over all tax management, from collection to inspection. Likewise, it aims for the Government to have the ability to regulate taxes to adapt the system to the needs of Catalan citizens. And, obviously, that the State cede the performance of all the taxes collected in Catalonia.
Mas’s work does not end here. He will also have to work on a second front: the execution of State investments in Catalonia. At this point, the Minister will have to create another mechanism, this time to determine which investments are included each year in the State’s general budgets, and develop tools to ensure that they are effective. And in case they are not executed, look for compensation formulas.
Natàlia Mas is not the only one who came out with homework from the extraordinary meeting of the Government. Gemma Ubasart, Minister of Justice, is in charge of observing and supervising the processing of the amnesty law. A rule that is essential for the Left to be approved.
Also the departments of the Presidency – headed by Laura Vilagrà – and of Territory – headed by Ester Capella – left with a task: to ensure the correct transfer of Rodalies. The Government has created a commissioner for the integral transfer of the Commuter train service. Pere Macias, former councilor of CiU and until five years ago coordinator of the Rodalies 2020-2030 plan, will be in charge of coordinating the “integral transfer” and progressive of the Rodalies service.
“We are entering a new stage”, emphasized Aragonès several times during his appearance before all the general secretaries of the Government, sector secretaries and the press. To make it clear that Catalan politics is entering this new stage after the investiture of Pedro Sánchez and the agreements on amnesty, Neighborhoods and funding, the Government has even changed the slogan it displayed since December 2022, “Always forward” , from shortly after the break with Junts, for “Let’s go” or “Let’s go to work”.
“We are starting a new stage in which what was said to be impossible is beginning to become a reality”, cried the republican. He recalled that the amnesty is being processed, but now the main objective is to establish, in the next four years, the foundations of an agreed referendum on self-determination.
Nevertheless, Aragonès warned Sánchez: “The agreements we are deploying are ambitious and, therefore, their compliance will determine the continuity of the legislature in the Congress of Deputies”.
It will be complicated, despite pro-independence pressure, for the PSOE and Sumar Government to accept a change in funding such as the one proposed by the Catalan Executive. The PSOE has already expressed itself on the issue and has made it clear that it will not compromise in this regard. Together, it also calls for a new funding model. Aragonès has extended his hand to the post-convergents to work together, but until now those of Jordi Turull and Laura Borràs have ignored him.
