Opposition parties in Catalonia, including both parliamentary supporters and non-supporters, have collectively given the Salvador Illa government a failing grade for its management two years after the last parliamentary elections. Critics point to the Rodalies crisis, education and healthcare strikes, police infiltration of trade union meetings, housing issues, and insecurity as key failures.
Junts president, Laura Sales, stated that "the main problem Catalonia has today is called Salvador Illa," adding that the situation is "worse" now than two years ago. Sales described the government as "in freefall" and attributed Catalonia's "decadence" to its "incompetence." She reiterated calls for the resignations of three ministers: Sílvia Paneque (Territory and Government Spokesperson), Esther Niubó (Education), and Núria Parlon (Interior), as well as the Director General of the Police, Major Josep Lluís Trapero.
Sales also criticised the government's linguistic policy and accused it of being "subordinate" to the PSOE and lacking "national ambition," leading to "denationalisation." She highlighted concerns about the government's approach to teachers, stating, "The government decides to treat teachers as criminals by putting police in classrooms and also in their assemblies. There are red lines that a democratic government should not cross."
ERC and Comuns Express Discontent
Esquerra Republicana (ERC), a party that provides parliamentary support to Illa's government and is negotiating the Generalitat's budget, also criticised its management. ERC spokesperson Ester Capella said the government "cannot quite get their way" and "generated some conflicts that could have been avoided." Capella added that ERC is working to provide the government with "national ambition and social ambition" through its agreements.
Similarly, the Comuns, who previously agreed with the Socialists on Catalan accounts, expressed their disappointment. Their parliamentary president, Jéssica Albiach, criticised the government's results in housing and the fact that Rodalies is again a paid service despite continued operational issues. Albiach described the Illa government as "weak and overwhelmed," suggesting it "drags its feet, moves slowly, and often makes political missteps."
Despite these criticisms, both ERC and the Comuns separate budgetary matters from the controversy surrounding police infiltrations. Junts and the CUP, however, have focused on this point. Junts labelled ERC "co-responsible" for not suspending negotiations, while the anti-capitalist CUP urged both ERC and the Comuns to withdraw from government talks.
Broader Opposition Assessment
The Popular Party (PP) also offered a strong assessment of the PSC government's two years. PP spokesperson Juan Fernández called President Illa the "worst fraud" in Catalonia in recent decades. Fernández argued that while Catalans understood the intentions of Carles Puigdemont, Quim Torra, and Pere Aragonés, Illa "deceived all citizens who, in good faith, believed a new era was beginning," both in public service management and national issues. He accused Illa of "political corruption" for delaying budget discussions until after the Andalusian elections on 17 May, suggesting Illa prioritises his party's electoral interests in Andalusia over the general interests of Catalans.
The PP believes that over the past two years, Catalonia has been subject to the interests of Pedro Sánchez's government and Waterloo. Fernández highlighted a "lack of leadership" from the president in addressing essential issues, particularly public service management. He cited increased waiting lists, tax pressure, the state of education, insecurity, and infrastructure as key areas where the Catalan government lacks the capacity to react. Fernández concluded that "Catalonia is worse off than two years ago, and needs to believe in itself," also noting the government's dependence on the dictates of ERC and the Comuns.
Vox's deputy spokesperson, María García Fuster, presented a similar analysis, stating that "Catalonia is going downhill, without brakes and with no one at the wheel." She pointed to the collapse of social services and rising poverty. Regarding the education strike, García Fuster supported the protests, describing the state of education in Catalonia as "rubbish."
Looking ahead, the ongoing budget negotiations between the Illa government and its parliamentary supporters, particularly ERC and the Comuns, will be critical. The opposition's continued pressure on issues like police conduct and public service performance suggests a challenging period for the government as it seeks to secure its legislative agenda and address public concerns.
