Three days after the leadership of ERC announced that they had reached an agreement with the PSC to invest Socialist Salvador Illa as president of the Generalitat in exchange for providing Catalonia with its own financing system, taking the community out of the common regime, concern about the content and consequences of that pact is spreading within the PSOE. Initial doubts and confusion expressed in hushed tones —with some exceptions— in the first hours have given way to open criticism. The agreement is still pending ratification by the 8,700 members of ERC, who will vote on Friday.
The Government of Asturias, led by the PSOE, expressed its “rejection” on Thursday of the pact reached with ERC by the PSC, which would involve the central government as the one responsible for implementing changes to the financing model. The spokesman for the Asturian government and Minister of Finance, Guillermo Peláez, stated that the proposed fiscal agreement for Catalonia would decrease state resources, limit solidarity, and move towards a financing model based solely on the fiscal capacity of the territories.
Several regional socialist leaders have expressed their concerns about the agreement. The President of the Government of Extremadura, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, has called on the Prime Minister and leader of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, to convene a Federal Policy Council for representatives of the party to discuss the agreement. The federations of the PSOE in Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Aragon have also joined in asking for a debate on the issue.
The Asturian government’s stance on the pact is particularly significant as it is one of the three autonomous communities governed by the PSOE along with Castilla-La Mancha, which initially opposed the agreement, and Navarra. Asturias’ rejection of the fiscal agreement for Catalonia is based on the principles of equality and solidarity enshrined in the constitution. The government has stated that it will take necessary actions to defend its model of common financing and solidarity within the country.
Additional concerns have been raised by the PSOE in Extremadura, with the regional leader emphasizing the importance of ensuring equality and social justice in any financial reforms. The party in Extremadura believes that no socialist should compromise these principles, despite any doubts about the agreement. They also stress the importance of solidarity beyond monetary aspects, citing examples of how regions like Extremadura contribute in different ways. The PSOE in Extremadura trusts that the principles of equality and social justice will remain at the core of the party’s decisions regarding the agreement with ERC.
Overall, the PSOE is facing internal dissent and conflicting views regarding the proposed agreement with ERC. While some members support the pact as a means of promoting solidarity and autonomy for Catalonia, others are concerned about the potential impact on the overall financing system and solidarity among regions in Spain. The debate within the party reflects a broader discussion about the principles of equality, justice, and solidarity that underpin socialist ideals in Spain.
