The results of last Sunday and the subsequent election call of Pedro Sánchez have convulsed the political map in Spain, especially in Catalonia, where the two major pro-independence parties have opened a deep reflection on the strategy that suits them best for the future. The most paradoxical thing about the situation is that those who are most in agreement with the State are now considering being more radical and those who have flaunted a more disruptive position are beginning to see the advantages of moderation. Let’s see if we can explain each other.
Esquerra has opened an internal debate on whether it makes sense to maintain its pragmatism of recent years and whether the time has come to end the dialogue with Madrid and consider a much more critical and confrontational discourse with the State. This is the line of President Pere Aragonès’ speech last Tuesday.
Together, however, he has seen his best municipal results where his candidates have been more moderate and abandoned the continuing appeal for independence. The example that everyone has in mind is Xavier Trias in Barcelona, ​​but we could also include the mayors of Igualada, Martorell or Figueres, who have obtained very good results. In the case of the Catalan capital, Trias would prefer an agreement with the PSC to ensure a stable majority that would allow him to comfortably govern the entire legislature. An agreement that today seems impossible in the middle of the electoral campaign but that could be plausible after 23-J. Even within Junts there is a sector (not a majority) that would be in favor of trying a future agreement with the socialists, in case for Sánchez to win the elections and need the votes of pro-independence deputies in Congress. The convergent gene beats hard again. The moderation of Junts will receive another important boost next Tuesday when the executive pronounces in favor of the replacement of Laura Borràs at the head of the presidency of the Parliament.
Junts and Esquerra paths always cross. We will see if this change of roles is consolidated after the 23rd or if it is just an electoral calculation.
