Since 18-J, the day the Galicians supported him with an absolute majority to continue at the head of the Xunta de Galicia, Alphonse Rueda is “baron with a b”, in the words of Alberto Nuñez Feijóo. And like his predecessor, he is ready to take the initiative and lead the rebellion of the barons of his party against the Catalan quota.
If in 2021 the presidents of seven autonomous communities, Castile and León, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, La Rioja, Aragon and Asturias; Having responded to Feijóo’s call to agree in Santiago de Compostela on the broad outlines of a reform of the financing system, Rueda now wants to do the same.
Up to five socialist barons attended this meeting, in which he participated as number two of the Xunta. In addition, those who were in the minority were those of the PP: Feijóo and Alfonso Fernández-Mañueco. But the roles were reversed.
This time there are two PSOE barons: Emiliano Garcia-Page And Adrien Barbon and both raised their voices against the pre-agreement that the CPS signed with ERC to make president of the Generalitat Salvador Illawhich is considering the approval of an economic agreement for Catalonia.
Rueda, like all the leaders of the Popular Party, wants these rebel barons to move from words to actions.
So he will call them personally. So that they align themselves with the communities governed by the PP and participate in a new edition of the Santiago Forum, this time not only to reach a consensus on the reform of the financing system, but also to spin a common response to the Catalan crisis. concert. “At that time, the PSOE barons arrived without any problems. We will see now”say sources close to the Galician president.
As they recall, this summit of presidents brought about an understanding between regions that “at first seemed” that they could “have differences”. But everyone sat down at the same table, began to exchange roles and a consensus emerged, so rare these days. “We formed a front that would have facilitated, within a Fiscal and Financial Policy Council, the conclusion of a certain type of agreement.”
The question is: if it was possible then, why not now? Sources from the Xunta de Galicia reveal to the newspaper Rueda’s intention: “That the Santiago Agreement, signed between eight autonomous communities, be repeated again.” Of course, before picking up the phone from Page and Barbón, the Galician president will attend the meeting that Feijóo has called for next September 6 with all the PP barons.
“Logically, he will attend the call of President Feijóo and from there we will see the decisions,” they emphasize in Rueda’s entourage. Of their intention to repeat a conclave in which popular and socialist barons would participate, they add: “It’s a good idea because we have a basis, and everything we agreed on at that time is probably still 90% valid.” and we could have a deal done in a morning.”
For the PP, the single financing of Catalonia is the main battle horse to attack the government of Pedro Sanchez in the coming months. Because, they explain from Genoa, the transfer of 100% of the taxes that the socialists have committed to the republicans will have a direct impact on the public coffers of all the communities of the common regime.
“Coup d’état”
This is what all the territorial presidents of the PP are highlighting, who directly denounce a “coup d’état to the solidarity and equality of the Spanish people”. Terms in which no popular command was expressed, even during the negotiation and subsequent approval of the amnesty law. But the granting of an economic agreement to Catalonia is different.
It is no longer about forgiving the crimes of a handful of politicians, they say within the popular leadership. What is at stake are the resources of all Spaniards. In Galicia, for example, the Xunta has calculated that the economic agreement for Catalonia would result in a loss of almost 450 million euros per year. The Andalusian government, for its part, claims that each Andalusian will lose between 200 and 600 euros per year.
All the popular barons seem more than concerned about the privileges of Catalonia. This was demonstrated this Monday with the manifesto they signed, in which they denounce the fact that Sánchez is promoting a modification of the Constitution “through the back door”.
In the same vein, Isabel Díaz Ayuso said in her last public appearance that the PSOE was drawing up a plan to transform Spain into “a secular, plurinational federal republic that no one explains, but which is illegal, which threatens national sovereignty” and this, of course, will affect everyone’s resources.
For the beginning of the course, Feijóo gave great importance to the photo with his barons. This will be the beginning of a great offensive against the PSC-ERC pact that has the socialist leaders in its sights. The ultimate goal is for Page and Barbón to increase the pressure on their deputies in Congress so that, when the time comes, they vote against the bill. Catalan quota.
“Indeed, They will have something to say to the deputies who represent their territories. Afterwards, it is true that each deputy will act as he sees fit, but expressly asking that he not support what will harm him directly, I think that at this moment is inexcusable, in my opinion,” said Alfonso Rueda himself in his interview with EL SPANISH a few days ago.
