Call for action in General Debate

Barcelona, 30 September 2026, Josep Maria Jové, president of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) parliamentary group, has urged President of the Generalitat Salvador Illa to stop 'dragging his feet' in fulfilling coalition agreements made between ERC and the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC). Speaking during the third General Policy Debate (DPG) of the current legislative term at the Parlament de Catalunya, Jové warned that without full implementation of the agreed terms, future cooperation would be impossible and political stability in Catalonia would be undermined.

Accountability on governance and sovereignty

Jové stated that Illa 'has run out of time' and must now demand that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez honours commitments beneficial to Catalan citizens. He stressed that the investiture agreement included specific provisions for national and social sovereignty, which should define the legislature’s direction. He criticised Illa’s government as lacking ambition, leadership, and effective management, noting that after two years in office, there has been no meaningful institutional normalisation nor improvement in public services.

Do not relate independence with poor governance ever again.

Jové rejected historical revisionism used to justify governance shortcomings, citing socioeconomic data to counter claims that the previous decade was 'lost'.

Key policy demands

ERC’s proposals during the DPG focus on:

  • Protecting linguistic immersion in schools,
  • Defending industrial jobs and securing a role in SEAT’s governance,
  • Reducing the Property Transfer Tax and curbing property speculation,
  • Ensuring broad societal involvement in the education pact.

Criticism over amnesty stance

Jové also challenged Illa’s framing of the amnesty law as the 'final point of the conflict', arguing it does not resolve the underlying political issue: the inability to pursue self-determination within the Spanish state. While agreeing with Illa’s contrast between democracy and authoritarianism, he insisted democratic quality is measured by protection of collective rights, particularly the right to self-determination.

Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by europapress.es, lavanguardia.com, elnacional.cat, Parlament de Catalunya, Departament d'Edicions del Parlament de Catalunya, Europa Press Barcelona.