Salvador Illa is convinced that he will be the next president of the Generalitat, but he remains faithful to the prudence and caution that characterize him. He does not want to start building the house from the roof, but he gives clues about what his government will be like: open to prestigious independents. Avoid, however, saying that about a “government of the best.” He knows that the negotiation will be long and complex and, possibly, he is beginning to get used to the idea of ??governing as a minority.
What is your reading of the results of 12-M?
That the Catalans have decided to open a new stage in Catalonia. There were two options: more of the same, with a balance of recent years well below what Catalonia can and should aspire to, or open a new stage that I define with two verbs, unite and serve, underlining what unites us. Catalans and putting public services as the first objective. And the Catalans have clearly opted for this.
A few days ago, in the elections in the Basque Country, the nationalists obtained the best result in history, and now in Catalonia they have obtained the worst. How do you value it?
I am somewhat reticent about comparisons between the political reality of the Basque Country and Catalonia. It seems to me that we are experiencing a context of very profound changes, systemic, geopolitical, economic, technological, environmental changes. And citizens have realized that this is not the time to make divisive approaches, but to highlight the common ties between Catalans, of Catalans with the rest of Spaniards and with the whole of Europe.
What would be your summary of these years of the process?
I think the most objective summary is that Catalonia has been far below its possibilities. We could have driven the car at 120 km/h and we have traveled at 40 or 50 km/h. This is seen if we analyze the different public policies. There is a drought and we are not sufficiently prepared. In education we have fallen back in many positions in Spain and Europe as a whole. In renewable energy we have not advanced what we should. In infrastructure we have not made the decisions that had to be made. In health we have not faced the necessary reforms. In terms of mobility or housing, neither. And this can be summed up in one fact. Catalonia has always led Spain in economic terms and in 2017 we stopped leading the Spanish economy in terms of GDP. In this new stage we must make up for lost time and do so in an inclusive way, with an appeal to all Catalans. Whatever language they speak, wherever they come from, whatever they think. Everyone should feel concerned in this collective effort that we must make to recover this lost time.
ERC has obtained a bad electoral result and they consider that they have made a pragmatic effort unlike Junts, but in the negotiation of the amnesty, they believe that the PSOE has rewarded Junts more.
First of all, I want to express my respect for the reflection processes that all political groups carry out. Esquerra has a long history, with a service record that may be more or less appreciated, but it is in favor of Catalonia. I myself, in this last legislature, have always had my hand outstretched to try to put the interests of Catalonia above the interests of our political formation.
He hasn’t responded to me…
No no. I would not agree to this. The elections on July 23 outlined two options for Spain. An option to which clearly the whole of Spain and Catalonia emphatically said no, which was a right and far-right option of PP and Vox. And another that responds to a plural and diverse model of Spain, headed by Pedro Sánchez, which required the assistance of many political organizations, particularly ERC and Junts, but also the PNV, Bildu and the BNG. The negotiations had their complexity, but there was no idea of ??giving priority to anyone.
Now entering the investiture process, do you see any possibility that Carles Puigdemont could be president of the Generalitat?
Frankly, no. In the last ten years there have been four presidents and five legislatures lasting an average of two and a half years. I think this is a path that citizens have said no to. This new stage is up to the PSC to lead. I have already advanced in the campaign that I was going to assume my responsibility and that is what I am going to do. I’m going to present my candidacy for president. And I do not conceive that any political formation blocks the will of the Catalans.
You now have three options: a coalition government, tripartite or bipartite, or a solo government. Which formula attracts you the most?
Let’s let things happen in their own time. First, the Parliament must be constituted on June 10. Negotiations then begin for the investiture, which must take place on June 25. Next week the European election campaign begins and that must also be taken into account in the dialogue process. We are going to analyze the different options, and the relevant thing is to open this new stage, to do it with the formula that can provide the most stability. From my progressive convictions, also the most progressive formula possible, which puts public services as a priority.
Are you willing to give up the presidency of the Parliament in exchange for this support for governability?
The Parliament’s Bureau, which is made up of seven members, a president, two vice-presidents and four secretaries, has to respond to the plurality of the Parliament and the political weight of each formation. We will see.
And could it be the case that the PSC would give up the presidency of the Parliament?
The citizens have voted what they have voted. I want to respect the dialogue processes that there will be with the rest of the political formations, but it seems to me that it is also very important to respect the will expressed by citizens at the polls.
Do you think the PP should be on the Parliamentary Table?
It is the fourth group in the Parliament, and we are going to see what results these conversations with the different groups give, but I have no desire to exclude any political formation, except those that profess hate speech.
You have 42 deputies, which is not the same as 33, which ERC had, but governing as a minority will not be easy…
My purpose is to aspire to lead this new stage in Catalonia in a stable manner. These days we have learned of a note from a rating agency, Moody’s, which makes an assessment of the results of the elections in Catalonia in terms of generating stability in both Catalonia and Spain. And I propose a government that is as transversal as possible, made up of very competent people, naturally based on the political formations that give it support and that from there knows how to attract talent.
You mentioned the name of Núria Parlon in the electoral campaign, as a possible Minister of the Interior. I don’t know if she has the government more or less closed and if it will be occupied only by PSC militants or there may be independents in it.
I have begun to reflect on the scheme of a future government, but I want to be very cautious, because things have to happen in their own time. The commitment I acquired I maintain, naturally, with regard to the Interior. I would like a government not only of militant people from political groups, but open to independents who have stood out for their professional excellence or for their skills in a certain area of ??responsibility. I think it is what is appropriate to open this new stage in Catalonia.
Any name?
No. It’s still premature.
Does the number of councils seem correct or will there be less?
I haven’t started, but it seems to me that it is not relevant whether 14, 15, 16 or 13 are.
Is it equal?
Yes, that is a commitment we have made.
And about the controversy over whether the Department of Climate Action should recover the number of Agriculture?
It seems to me that the scheme itself has to respond to the Government’s program and certain demands that have been made. I am going to be sensitive to this, but I am not in a position to specify more about the structure of the government, because I insist, I have not yet reflected in depth.
If Puigdemont ends up adopting the decision that he announced in RAC1, that he would leave the Parliament if he were not sworn in as president, do you think it would be easier to understand Junts without him?
I want to be respectful of Puigdemont and all political parties, but especially Junts as well. They have to make their own decisions, and Puigdemont must evaluate how things have gone. Some political formations find it more difficult to admit reality, but I do not want to interfere in any case in the process that each political space has.
Are you afraid of a repeat election?
I think it would be a mistake. I’m not in this, I can’t conceive it. It seems to me that it is not what Catalonia needs and it would be counterproductive. We are going to do everything possible to avoid an electoral repetition that is not convenient.
Have you had the possibility of contacting other political forces for negotiations?
No. Beyond the usual courtesy calls. I have not yet had an in-depth reflection, and the start of the European election campaign will require that if any type of contact occurs, it must be done with due discretion.
During these years, you have had practically no contact with Carles Puigdemont. Do you now regret not having gone to Brussels like Santos Cerdán did?
No, I have not had contact, it’s true. I am a person who believes in collective projects and that politics is made by collective organizations with their decision-making bodies and those responsible. My party and I have maintained a relationship, I think a fluid one, with the relevant political formations. In the case of Junts I have had it, but not with Puigdemont. I neither regret it, nor do I stop regretting it.
What will be the first decision you will make if you are president of the Generalitat?
I committed to two things. One is an emergency decree in relation to infrastructure and the measures that must be taken to deal with the drought. And the second is to appoint a commissioner of self-government whose first task would be to make a diagnosis, an audit of the public services in Catalonia, not to delve into what may have been done wrong, but to find out why we have reached where we have reached and especially what needs to be done to reverse the situation.
You have defended the existence of a party table to discuss self-government. Now that you can be president, would you start it?
Dialogue between Catalan political groups is essential. I am not going to simply relegate it to the parliamentary sphere.
Open to all? Also to Vox and Aliança Catalana?
Hate speech is a red line. We must congratulate the Catalans because this has been a campaign, I will not say that it is exemplary, but it is instructive in relation to the political climate that we see in other territories. There has been respect, always in a tone of education that I would like to see extended to the rest of Spain.
But isolating them does not make them lose votes, on the contrary.
Yes, but I also believe that those who have been temporizing with these speeches, I am referring to the Popular Party, which even governs with them in several autonomous communities, have not achieved a good result, because Vox is still exactly there, and they have let their speech penetrate
If Esquerra and Junts stay out of the government, it is logical that the position they maintain in Congress will be different. Are you afraid that it will affect the legislature?
I don’t think so. They are different institutional plans. I think that whoever plays or puts this at risk is not going to have the support of the Catalans who voted for Pedro Sánchez on July 23. It also seems to me that a lesson emerges from May 12, which is that Catalonia wants to once again be a main actor in Spain, not a secondary author. The recent history of Catalonia has been the history of getting involved in the construction of this diverse Spain. Two of the seven fathers of the Constitution are Catalan. The Catalans have not only voted not to leave this Spain, but they have said yes to improving, reinforcing and strengthening this plural and diverse Spain.
Puigdemont has threatened more than once with a motion of censure against Sánchez. Does he believe you are capable of doing it?
It seems to me that it would be a mistake. But everyone is free to make their decisions. I don’t know if a motion of censure from PP, Vox and Junts would be the smartest thing. He left the question there for the readers of his newspaper to answer.
How do you see the European elections?
Very relevant. They are perhaps the most momentous elections since the constitution of the European Union, in the sense that for the first time there may be the temptation on the part of the conservative space of the European People’s Party to reach agreements with far-right parties. Be careful with this because it can put the founding values ??of the EU at risk and, therefore, it is very important that a message of forcefulness and clarity be sent from Catalonia and Spain.
