From a post-vacational perspective, in the headquarters of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) they see it even more clearly: the suspension of Laura Borràs as speaker of the Catalan Parliament is something that had to be done in the face of a case "linked to an accusation of corruption". Opening the new political term this Monday, the deputy general secretary and spokesperson of ERC, Marta Vilalta, argued that this was the "most responsible and coherent" decision that could be taken and that it is now necessary to get beyond the interim situation by looking for a new speaker of parliament. "We cannot pervert or affect the institutions", she maintained. She thus took the opportunity once again to ask Together for Catalonia (Junts) for a proposal for the relief of the also party -president Borràs, although privately ERC sources admit that they don't have a great deal of confidence that such an action will end up happening.
In a press conference this afternoon, Marta Vilalta called for a new political course "based on respect for people" and also "for the institutions", which implies "preserving them from storms that could threaten them". In this regard, the ERC spokesperson insisted that "defending our own institutions is defending democracy". In this wishlist for the start of the new term, ERC also asked Junts to be "useful", for there to be "mutual respect" between partners and "not to transfer internal discrepancies to the institutions".
Thus, this coming Thursday, ERC will reject the request, registered by Junts, to reconsider the speaker's suspension that had been agreed by the Bureau last July. "We absolutely agree" with that decision, reiterated the ERC politician. And she urged Junts to search for and as soon as possible announce a "proposal to substitute" Borràs "on a temporary basis" and thus to avoid prolonging the interim situation. "We hope that the party itself has the ability to propose someone else who could do the job," stressed Marta Vilalta. In the meantime, she guaranteed, the first deputy speaker of parliament, ERC's Alba Vergés, will perform all the functions "with the utmost responsibility", as established by the rules of the chamber.
Clear strategy
Beyond the Borràs case and its consequences, ERC has taken advantage of the start of the new political term to reiterate its commitment to dialogue and negotiation to resolve the political conflict between Catalonia and Spain. They face the return after the summer break "aware that the judicialization and repression [of the conflict] continue and that the negotiation process must continue to bear its fruit on the road towards amnesty and self-determination", assured Vilalta, who criticized that the concepts of "the worse things get, the better [for the independence movement]" and "saying no to everything" are not an option, and that they must be present in all areas. In this context, ERC argued that "it is the only party that has proposed a strategy to move Catalonia forward towards the Republic" following a "broad path" of negotiation, dialogue and great national consensuses.
Rufián in Santa Coloma?
In this new term, the spotlight also begins to be placed on the municipal elections next May and on the shuffling of possible names, such as the possible candidacy of Gabriel Rufián in the metropolitan Barcelona city of Santa Coloma de Gramanet. Marta Vilalta left this decision in the hands of the party at municipal level. But she noted two points. On the one hand, ERC intends to contest the hegemony of the Catalan Socialists (PSC) in the municipalities of the metropolitan area of Barcelona. On the other hand, her party is "convinced" that the current ERC spokesperson in Madrid would be a "great candidate to represent ERC in Santa Coloma". She pointed to the "nervousness in the Socialist ranks" in the last few hours after news of this matter had broken.