In Barcelona, Mònica Sales, the Junts parliamentary group leader, stated that "Catalonia has a problem today, and its name is Salvador Illa." Sales made the comments in an interview with 'El Món', collected on Sunday by Europa Press, echoing a famous phrase by Pasqual Maragall directed at Artur Mas in 2005.
Sales' remarks come two years after the 12 May elections, which saw the PSC win and Salvador Illa become president of the Generalitat with support from ERC and the Comuns. She believes the current government is leading Catalonia towards decline in areas such as education, security, housing, and transport. "The country is experiencing a situation of maximum complexity due to this submission and lack of leadership," Sales said.
Concerns Over Madrid's Influence and Fiscal Deficit
The Junts leader also focused on what she sees as Illa's dependence on Madrid, lamenting that the Catalan government is "subordinated to the orders of Pedro Sánchez." Sales reiterated the issue of Catalonia's annual fiscal deficit, which she puts at €22 billion.
"The fact that €22 billion leaves every year and does not return, and there isn't a president whose first action is to ask for and claim this, shows a lack of leadership and weakness for us. A total subordination," she insisted.
Sales further criticised ERC, accusing the party of being complicit in a "denationalisation that is advancing rapidly." She warned that, given the current emergency, ERC's agreement to the budgets makes them complicit in the ongoing situation.
Linguistic Policy and Public Transport
Sales expressed concern about the Catalan language, criticising the executive's linguistic policy and the minister, Francesc Xavier Vila. She believes the government's actions are "whitewashing" the situation and insisted that the minister must have a clear premise: Catalan must always be used. "The Department of Linguistic Policy can have all the goodwill it wants, but it is a shop window. Because it has no impact on the other departments, which do what they want," Sales said, adding that a linguistic awareness process is needed.
Regarding the infiltration of two Mossos d'Esquadra officers into a teachers' assembly, Sales maintained that teachers have the right to organise. She stressed that "the responsibility lies with Minister Parlon and Trapero," and reiterated that consequences must be faced.
Sales also insisted on the need for a full transfer of Rodalies commuter rail services. "They agree to a transfer, but Madrid holds the powers, and Madrid will make the decisions with the mixed company. And the mess is visible every day," she stated. She contrasted this with the Generalitat's own railway system, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, which she said "works well." "We already have the model. We need a transfer for this to work like the successful model we already have here," Sales affirmed.
Finally, when asked if her party is concerned about the rise of Aliança Catalana, Sales acknowledged that "the issue of Aliança is a reality." However, she stated that Junts has a clear direction and aims to continue acting as an alternative to reverse electoral results.
