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Five days have passed since Salvador Illaannounced on December 30th that he would be the new Catalan Socialist (PSC) candidate for the presidency of the Generalitat of Catalonia. A period for which the Spanish state has had a part-time health minister. It is something that under normal conditions would be at the least surprising, but given the global pandemic, it is incredibly reckless and demonstrates an intolerable lack of respect for the public. Do we deserve a minister more concerned about his candidacy for the Catalan presidency than about people's health? The fact that Salvador Illa has already taken on his role as a candidate seriously interferes with his duties and, in addition, the ministerial measures he adopts have an inevitable bias that under normal conditions would not be present. Or at least, it wouldn’t be quite as present. 

In a state which has a federalist appearance but is in fact increasingly centralized, the issue is not trivial, as many of the decisions that affect the autonomous communities depend on the health ministry. As well, Illa's management has been strongly criticized and Spain's balance sheet in containing the pandemic is bleak at international level. The accumulation of reasons for Illa to leave the ministerial post as soon as possible is such that on Monday something quite surprising occurred: the request for his resignation from the right - PP, Vox and Cs - has been joined by Unidas Podemos, the governing partner of Pedro Sánchez's Socialists. This, there has emerged the paradox of a ruling party calling for the resignation of a minister, a situation that is anything but exemplary, even if it is full of common sense.

If the consensus is so broad and Illa's situation so unsustainable, why doesn’t he leave and devote himself to his candidacy full time? It seems obvious that Illa is trying to take advantage of the public image of the health minister post while Pedro Sánchez consents to it and looks the other way. But, if there are only 41 days left until the Catalan elections, the precise day isn't important, right? Well, yes it is. Because even though the election is called for February 14th, this is a date that no one fully believes. And the possibility of elections being moved to May or June is not ruled out. If so, Illa would find himself in a situation he wouldn't want, if he can avoid it. The months would go by without the ministerial platform that gives him the most time on television and his image and level of public recognition would fade.

It is understandable, seen from his point of view, but it is very unserious and not at all edifying. But all this, when Pedro Sánchez is at the head of the Socialist electoral machinery for the 14th February election, and the Moncloa government palace is converted into the headquarters of the PSOE, is nothing to be concerned about, as long as he does not feel pressured in a way that he has so far managed to avoid.