President Salvador Illa told the Parliament of Catalonia on Wednesday 30 September that institutions must find a way for citizens to decide “the direction they want to take the country”. His remarks, made during the general policy debate, did not set out a proposed vote, legal process or timetable for Catalan residents.
In his reply to ERC parliamentary group president Josep Maria Jové, Illa said the full application of the amnesty law would be a starting point for returning matters that “should never have left politics” to political debate, according to reporting by ACN.
“The amnesty is not an endpoint, but a starting point.”
Illa said there were agreements so that citizens would ultimately decide the direction of Catalonia, while adding that the instruments needed to do so still had to be found.
Different positions on Catalonia's political future
The president said he had never argued that citizens should be unable to decide Catalonia's future. He contrasted his position with ERC's, saying the party supports sovereignty while he supports the greatest possible level of self-government within the existing framework.
He nevertheless said the two sides shared the aim of improving Catalonia's future. For residents, the immediate position remains unchanged: no new participation process or date was announced in the parliamentary exchange.
Commitment on governing agreements
After ERC criticised compliance with the agreements supporting Illa's investiture, the president pledged to fulfil all of the pacts.
Primary sources: govern.cat, eb.gencat.cat. Reported by Parlament de Catalunya, Salvador Illa i Roca, 3CatInfo, ACN, elperiodico.com, okdiario.com, elmon.cat, lavanguardia.com, diarimes.com, en.ara.cat, ultimahora.es, elnacional.cat, theguardian.com, Racó Català.
