Esquerra Republicana raised yesterday a united front of the pro-independence forces in Congress to demand the transfer of Rodalies to the government that leaves the polls on the next 23-J and asked for a “national outcry” to “say enough” to the “under-execution” investment chronicle” in Catalonia by the State.
In an event in front of Sants de Barcelona station, the main railway hub in Catalonia, number three on the Republican list in Congress, Francesc-Marc Álvaro, accompanied by the Minister of Economy Natàlia Mas and the councilor of the City Council of Barcelona Ernest Maragall, affirmed that ERC demands the “full, complete and real transfer of Rodalies” and launched an invitation to Junts and the CUP so that “all the pro-independence forces that are on the Madrid front can go together to achieve that transfer effective”. He also criticized that the central government has the Mediterranean corridor project “in the freezer”, an infrastructure that he considers essential for Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Murcia.
Aware of the difficulties for the three pro-independence parties to join forces in Congress, as has been evidenced in this legislature, the candidate warned that it will only be possible if “some change their attitude”. “All those who watch us throw stones will be welcome, but that means overcoming the politics of chaos, rhetoric and gesticulation”, remarked Álvaro, who made it clear that ERC “will pressurize” the Government “whatever” to negotiate that transfer .
For his part, the candidate for senator Ernest Maragall referred to the “mistreatment” by the State that “seriously affects Catalan citizens”, which in his opinion is evidence that “the future of Catalonia cannot be delegated to the socialists” because “the socialist vote is a loser for Catalonia and against its citizens”, he stated.
After the Government explained on Wednesday the “grievances” and “disloyalties” of the State with Catalonia in fiscal, financial and infrastructure matters, Councilor Mas remarked yesterday at the ERC campaign event that a “Recentralization of resources” by the Central Executive, which goes into the “chronic under-execution” of investments in infrastructure by the State in Catalonia.
In the afternoon and from Sabadell, the deputy general secretary of ERC, Marta Vilalta, highlighted the need to defend the Catalan language in the face of situations like that of Borriana. “They will have us in front” to avoid “that they confront us through the language”, he warned. And he proclaimed his party as “the main threat to the regime of 1978” and “fascism”, while Junts “is not to be trusted”.
