The pro-independence coalition has collapsed.
(Photo: dpa)
Barcelona The crisis in the pro-independence government of the Spanish region of Catalonia has escalated drastically. The liberal-conservative partner JuntsXCat left the coalition because the party base voted in favour. 56.7 percent voted for this, JuntsXCat announced on Friday. Prime Minister Pere Aragonès of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) loses the support of the party’s 32 MPs. The ERC itself only occupies 33 of the 135 seats in the Barcelona Parliament.
However, Aragonès does not want to call new elections. He called JuntsXCat’s decision “irresponsible” but stressed his government would go ahead and start “a new stage”.
Shortly before the fifth anniversary of the chaotic referendum on Catalonia’s independence, Aragonès had sacked his deputy Jordi Puigneró from JuantsXCat. JuntsXCat had criticized Aragonés’ “cuddle course” to the left-wing central government. The head of government assured that he still strives for independence, but wants to achieve a referendum agreed with Madrid. JuntsXCat, on the other hand, wants to secede from Spain even without Madrid agreeing to a referendum.
On October 1, 2017, the separatist regional government held an illegal referendum on secession from Spain. As a result, Catalonia was temporarily placed under forced administration by the central government. The regional head of government at the time, Carles Puigdemont, and some of his fellow campaigners fled abroad. Other separatists were sentenced to long prison terms, but pardoned in 2021.
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