The Minister of the Presidency, Laura Vilagrà, warned the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, that without a referendum on self-determination, the Catalan political conflict “will not end”, for which she implied that the Moncloa still had “a lot homework” while waiting for independence.

In an interview with EFE, the number two of the Generalitat and direct interlocutor of the government in the process of open dialogue between the two executives, highlighted the progress made at this negotiating table, but specified that the objective of the ‘ERC is now the address of the referendum file.

“The independence process is not dead,” Vilagrà said, responding to Sánchez’s remarks a few weeks ago. “There were two files: the first, that of diversion, which for us still has a long way to go. And then that of self-determination, so that in Catalonia we can decide our political future.”

Although the Minister explained the “results” obtained in the diversion – such as pardons, the repeal of the crime of sedition or the reform of embezzlement -, she considered that this path should lead to a definitive “amnesty”.

But the Generalitat’s plan for 2023 involves, above all, exploring the possibility of agreeing to a referendum: President Pere Aragonès’ roadmap, following the Canadian path, pledges to articulate an agreement of clarity this year, which would take place after an internal debate in Catalonia and the sum of alliances with political, economic, trade union and social actors.

Once this Catalan proposal – which would set the conditions for this referendum – articulated, it would be transferred to negotiation with the State, to then agree on the hypothetical consultation.

The minister was convinced that, despite the fact that the positions are “distant”, the two governments will be able to “work” on this file and allow this consultation.

“We know that it is complex and that the road will not be easy, but we are absolutely convinced that this is the line to end the political conflict. Without the vote of the citizens of Catalonia, the political conflict will not end , ” he pointed out. .

“There is a lot of homework to do with the independence movement”

Vilagrà, one of the centerpieces of the machinery of the dialogue table and in direct dialogue with the Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, avoided giving details of the discreet contacts between the executives, but implied that the government “knows” that ERC wants to “work on this issue” and that “with the independence movement there is still a lot of homework to do”, including the referendum.

Because, he warned, President Pedro Sánchez “would be making a mistake if he thought that just by opening the diversion line, the conflict is over. On the contrary, the conflict is still in effect. not end. This file, as soon as possible, they must open it”.

And as to whether ERC will back Sánchez in a future investiture if he doesn’t accept those demands, the leader said her party should see “what this legislature gives of itself” and then “assess the success of this path and the results have been obtained.

Trust that the commons will join the clarity agreement

This week, the parliamentary leader of En Comú Podem, Jéssica Albiach, assured that there was not “a sufficient majority” in Parliament for the pact of clarity defended by Aragonès, which she summoned to convene the table of Catalan parties to decide “between all”. what is “the great proposition of the country”.

However, Vilagrà stressed that the government aspires to finally add the commons to this Canadian-style clarity agreement with Quebec: “The first thing is to reach agreements in Catalonia and to obtain support in Catalonia. Ideas often need a certain maturation for them to move. move forward and in the months to come we will work to get a powerful coalition to go stronger in Madrid”.

The government “obviously has a party like En Comú Podem”, insisted not only to join this “coalition” for the referendum, but also to “make proposals” in this regard and “improve” the approach that the Generalitat adopts Madrid.