The First Vice-President of the Government, María Jesús Montero, appeared this Wednesday in the Senate to explain – or at least try to – what the agreement with ERC on the single financing of Catalonia consists of. Without giving a precise definition, he clarified that the agreement does not say that it is a “concert”, but rather that “we are facing a new look at the financing of the Autonomous Communities”.
Although he defended the agreement, Montero tried to maintain a complex balancing act that ended up irritating his partners in ERC and Junts. Although the anger had different reasons, both repeatedly threatened to withdraw their support for Pedro Sánchez in Congress.
“I will talk about the literal nature of the agreement: it is a new look at Catalonia that we have not had until now,” Montero defended. His refusal to call it a concert had already embarrassed ERC in August and the vice-president had referred to it during this Wednesday’s session.
“You can call it whatever you want, I never blamed you for it, but I mean it literally. It’s neither one thing nor the other, it’s a new look and new looks… it’s hard for other people to see them,” he added.
And at the same time that Montero has tried to convince the independentists, he has also tried to convince those who consider that the agreement breaks solidarity between the territories. These voices are not only heard within the PP, but also in the socialist ranks themselves.
During her speech, the vice-president read several parts of the agreement, accusing the opposition of not having done so, and said that it consists of “the Generalitat being the one that manages, collects, regulates and controls taxes in Catalonia”, but also maintains its “solidarity” with the other territories.
“Not only must there be inter-territorial solidarity, but it is finalistic,” he said, adding that he is seeking “the approval of the offer of public services throughout the territory.” “How can some claim that it does not support the project?” he asked.
But it is this displayed solidarity that has angered the pro-independence movement. ERC senator Sara Baliac boasted that the agreement gives Catalonia “the key to the box” and said it was “the greatest advance in sovereignty that Catalonia has seen since 1979.”
He also said that solidarity is “limited” by the principle of ordinality, which establishes that no autonomous community receives less per capita than other communities that have contributed less.
“We demand full compliance with the agreement, as agreed. Let everyone be clear that not doing so will have consequences. Any non-compliance or unnecessary delay will have consequences,” Baliac warned. “If the Spanish state does not comply with the agreements, Catalonia’s response will be clear, firm and determined,” he added.
News in update
We are working to expand this information. Soon, the editorial staff of EL ESPAÑOL will offer you an update of all the data on this news.
To receive the latest news on your mobile phone, you can download our newspaper application for iOS and Android devices, as well as subscribe to access all exclusive content, receive our Newsletters and enjoy the Ñ Zone, reserved for subscribers.
