Congress President Meritxell Batet (Barcelona 1973) repeats as a socialist candidate for Barcelona in the general elections, but the legislature has not been easy for her. The pandemic has been joined by the roar of increasingly angry parliamentary sessions. She faces the campaign prudently, to avoid missteps like the one she committed with the rents, precisely her, who knows what it is like to be evicted.
The PSC did very well on 28-M and the PSOE very badly. Why?
There are places where the PSOE has won (Extremadura or the Canary Islands) and will not be able to govern, or places where it won in percentage of the vote but we will not be able to govern either. On the other hand, it is true that the PSC has fared substantially better than the PSOE and what is consolidating is an upward trend for the PSC thanks to the courage of the policies of the Sánchez government.
It is said that Spain cannot be governed without Catalonia, but it seems that Spain cannot be governed either
To govern Spain well, it is very important to understand Catalonia and this means having good results in Catalonia. When you want to structure a country and make policies to unite citizens, it is important to have good results in Catalonia and to understand it well.
How would you define the legislature?
It has had a very positive part in which Parliament has more than fulfilled its legislative function. We have approved more than 200 laws, three State budgets and the ministers and the president have appeared more than ever. The circumstances have been very exceptional due to the pandemic, but Parliament never closed and we held more sessions than were due precisely due to the pandemic. It is curious, an appeal was filed with the Constitutional Court by a group that was precisely the one that requested the suspension of the sessions because they were at risk of having covid, even so, all that was done was suspend a session for a week. I know the reality that was experienced and the activity that Parliament has had is patent and public.
Is the anger in Congress here to stay?
This is surely the other side of the coin. The tone of the debates has been the negative element of the legislature. Too often, insults and disrespect, the dehumanization of the opponent, have been generalized. We have returned to the friend-enemy dialectic when in politics there are only adversaries. We have seen it against the figure of the President of the Government, to whom an excess of personal attacks and insults have been dedicated that what they sought is the dehumanization of him and generate a rejection of his person. Trying to destroy the political adversary from a personal point of view is not a good path because what you have to do in politics is to contrast ideas, projects and arguments.
Which bank is most concerned about their behavior?
It can be seen by citizens who follow the sessions. The right-wing benches have raised their tone, they have staged more interruptions, shouts, blows… It is something that can be clearly verified in the development of parliamentary sessions.
The far right grows…
The most worrying thing is not its growth, but rather that traditional parties, of government, with a long history, assume its principles and values. It is worrisome for democratic institutions. There is no democracy without institutions, that is why it is important to take care of the institutions and put people who believe in them at the forefront.
Are these elections a fight between good and bad?
I believe that these elections are a battle between President Sánchez and Mr. Feijóo. They are the only people who can be president and who clearly have two completely different projects for the country. Sánchez is committed to a strong Spain within the EU, strongly internationalized and internationally recognized. Feijóo’s policies, on the other hand, I think they contrast in the recognition of rights, the ecological transition that Europe is asking for and the Agenda 20 30 that we agreed to within the United Nations
Were you wrong when you said that most people can pay their rent?
The payment of rent or a mortgage represents a very high percentage of the income of many families. I know this because I have experienced firsthand what it means to suffer the consequences of not being able to pay a mortgage. I wanted to reflect that this Government has done more than any other for the citizens who suffer from this situation, and that it protects and will continue to protect the most vulnerable tenants, for example with the suspension of evictions or the one-year extension of contracts in the case of in the cases of vulnerable families, included in the first housing law of democracy. In addition, the law also protects all tenants, with the limit to update the rent of the contracts in force by 2% this 2023 and 3% in the year 2024.
How is the management of Catalonia seen from Madrid?
It is worth asking if Catalonia is better or worse than in 2017 and the answer is clear. Catalonia is much better and it is due to the courageous policies of Sánchez, betting on coexistence. Today Spain is better than in 2017 because Catalonia is better.
Is this understood in Madrid?
It is perfectly understood when the reality of Catalonia is known. You only need to walk a little through its streets. For the first time in years in Catalonia there is talk of real policies, of what the Catalans have needed for a long time.
Should the dialogue table continue to meet after 23-J?
The dialogue is essential to be maintained. I myself, when I was Minister of Territorial Policy, convened the bilateral commission that had not met for nine years. It is good that the institutions maintain a fluid relationship to work cooperatively and loyally for the benefit of citizens.
Do you assume that you will not meet if the PP wins?
This should be answered by them. What I can say is that seeing the precedents it is difficult to maintain loyalty, the vocation for dialogue and the commitment to coexistence with the PP.
Sumar assumes endorsement of the agreement that arises from the dialogue table. Does the PSC also?
The PSC bets to advance, not to go back. In this too.
What does it mean to advance?
We have had this debate for 10 years in Catalonia and what we have to do is look ahead and not return to the past.
Will a definitive solution be impossible without Puigdemont?
This legislature has managed to redirect the territorial crisis. A road has been built where there was none, but it is a long road. When Sánchez came to the Government we only talked about the Catalan crisis, also when we traveled abroad. Today this does not happen. It is no longer a problem.
What do you think of Trias’ commitment to agreeing with the PP?
Trias’s reaction was disappointing in his speech at Barcelona City Hall. We should be happy to have a mayor like Jaume Collboni and we have to concentrate on governing the city well, developing the political project. As a Barcelonan I am very happy to have this mayor. Trias’ commitment to the PP comes from old. The rights have always agreed when necessary.
ERC will raise its price before a possible investiture of Sánchez
In these elections, citizens must choose whether they want President Sánchez, a progressive government that continues to bet on human rights, or Mr. Feijóo. Betting on intermediaries is betting on a risk and this is not the time to take risks.
If these elections go wrong for ERC again, should Aragonès advance the elections in Catalonia or do you think he will try to exhaust the legislature?
The Catalans want a policy that talks about the solutions to their real problems, what they demand is a useful policy, where they talk about coexistence, how we improve pensions, the minimum wage, beneficial legislation for workers. President Aragonès knows that he is in a minority in the Parliament of Catalonia and that he has a complicated legislature, but he decides if and when the elections are brought forward.
Would you like to repeat as president of Congress? She recently said that she does not need …
It has been an honor and a privilege to be president of the Congress. I believe a lot in Parliament, in the institution and I know how important it is, which is why the PP’s commitment to electing people who do not believe in these institutions in certain autonomous regions, people who send hateful messages to the public, worries me. It has been a real honor for me. Now we are finishing the legislature and I am practically in candidate mode. I’m going out to win because I think it’s very important that the PSC win and make it easier for the president to be Pedro Sánchez again.
The current government has two ministers from the PSC. Can this presence be expanded if Sánchez wins?
This is not the time to talk about future appointments. The representation of PSC ministers is very good and especially the PSC’s policies and project.
