Lluïsa Moret, vice-first secretary and spokesperson for the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), accused Junts per Catalunya on Monday of prioritising its “partisan interests” by voting against the Consorci d'Inversions (Investment Consortium) in the Spanish Congress. Moret stated that rejecting such proposals harms Catalan interests.
“Not standing by proposals like this is damaging the interests of Catalans. We do not understand why a Catalan party is not in favour of a proposal that benefits Catalonia,” Moret told reporters at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Barcelona. She called on Junts to show “political responsibility” and allow the initiative to proceed, noting that the text could be amended during its parliamentary journey.
Moret expressed strong support for the proposal, which was brought to the Congress of Deputies by ERC as a bill. “The initiative that ERC has brought to the Congress of Deputies in the form of a bill seems very appropriate to us, and we share it. That is why we do not understand the position Junts is defending,” she added. ERC is currently negotiating to secure the necessary parliamentary support for the initiative.
Budget Negotiations and Business Support
When asked if the rejection of the Consorci d'Inversions could affect negotiations for the Generalitat's budget, Moret clarified that any failure would be due to Junts' opposition, not a broader disagreement. “If this does not prosper, it will not be because there is a disagreement in this sense; if this does not prosper, it is because Junts will not allow it,” she affirmed.
Moret also addressed comments made by Josep Sánchez Llibre, president of Foment del Treball, a major Catalan business association, during an interview on 'La2Cat'. She said Sánchez Llibre's statements “surprised” the PSC.
“The majority of the Catalan employers' association and the country's social and economic agents are in favour of the Consorci d'Inversions because they believe, like us, that it is a good instrument,” Moret explained. She also criticised Sánchez Llibre's remarks about the central government, calling them “statements that contradict an objective reality, that in the last eight years both Spain and Catalonia have had absolutely significant economic growth rates under a progressive government.”
“We would ask Mr Sánchez Llibre to stop acting as Junts' eighth deputy, because what we expect from the president of Foment is that he defends the interests of the Catalan employers' association,” Moret concluded.
Mossos in Schools and Ripoll Council Changes
Regarding the Catalan government's pilot plan to deploy Mossos d'Esquadra officers in some educational centres, Moret defended it as an experimental initiative with a “positive intention, which is to strengthen coexistence.” She added that the government had provided the necessary explanations.
Finally, Moret commented on the upcoming resignations of councillors Enric Pérez and Anna Belén Avilés in Ripoll, Girona. Their abstention had allowed the budget of the town's mayor and Aliança Catalana leader, Sílvia Orriols, to pass, leading to their dismissal. Moret confirmed that the PSC Federation of Girona is working on their replacements. She explained that the two councillors' resignations would be formalised at the next Ripoll City Council plenary session, with their successors taking office at the subsequent meeting.
