Government rejects Jontes’ agenda: “In Catalonia only the constitutional framework suits him”

Before the general elections on 23 July, Pedro Sánchez categorically rejected the Junts Maximum Programme, which calls for an amnesty for all those accused of the operation and a referendum for self-determination in Catalonia. And after the appointment at the polls on Sunday, the head of government, already in office, continues without considering both demands, despite the fact that the formation of Carles Puigdemont may be decisive for the leader of the PSOE to choose again the position as head of the executive branch.

If anything has been proven in these years of Pedro Sanchez’s government, it is that in Catalonia, as in Spain as a whole, only the constitutional framework is appropriate.

Isabella RodriguezGovernment spokesperson

This was highlighted, on Tuesday, by the government spokeswoman, Socialist Isabel Rodriguez, after the last meeting of the Cabinet before the summer holidays. He asserted that “if something has been proven in these years of President Pedro Sánchez’s rule, it is that in Catalonia, as in Spain as a whole, it only fits within the constitutional framework.” Neither amnesty nor self-determination, the SWP insists, are constitutionally appropriate.

The Socialists are also keen that these are screens from the past, and are committed to looking to the future to turn the page on the course of 2017. “As expressed by the Catalan citizens, it seems clear that they also liked it,” stressed the government spokesman. Thus, he referred to the electoral victory of the Peace and Security Council led by Salvador Illa last Sunday at the polls, which won more votes and seats in Congress than all the pro-independence formations combined. At PSOE they summon Junts to think about the outcome of the election.

The executive’s spokesperson noted that Sanchez had called the election on J-23 in order to “clarify” the course Spain should follow. And in his opinion, the citizens clearly outlined this path, by blocking the way for the government of the Popular Party with the far right of Vox. “Spain has clearly defined a path of progress and rejection of setbacks,” said Isabel Rodríguez. And he showed his confidence that, henceforth, they would know how to manage this message from the Spanish community.

“The fate of Spain depends on continuing to move forward, as expressed at the polls, and we must now manage the outpouring of confidence from Spanish citizens,” the government spokesperson emphasized. What opinion polls have confirmed, he added, is that Spain is “diverse and pluralistic”. He appealed to the “responsibility” of all deputies and senators who came out of the election to face “a legislature which I hope, according to events, will be much quieter than this one”.

Thus, Isabel Rodríguez trusted the possibility of opening a fruitful legislature after an inauguration still uncertain. In Moncloa, they warn that Alberto Núñez Figo does not have enough support for his inauguration. They stressed that Pedro Sanchez had already shown more than “his ability to provide stability to Spain”. And they settled that this legislature continued in this manner again for four years, and charged three successive public budgets of the state, approved in due time and form.