New Govern of Catalonia Sworn In Under President Salvador Illa
The 16 councilors of the new Govern pledged their positions on Monday in a sober institutional swearing-in ceremony led by the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, which lasted barely twenty minutes. The ceremony, held in the Salón de Sant Jordi of the Palau de la Generalitat, began with the reading of the decree appointing the new councilors by the secretary of the Govern, Javier Villamayor.
President Illa called each member of his Govern one by one, asking them the ceremonial question: "Do you promise to faithfully fulfil in accordance with the law the obligations of the position you assume in the service of Catalonia and with loyalty to the president of the Generalitat of Catalonia?" Each councilor responded uniformly with, "Yes, I promise."
The first to take the oath was Albert Dalmau, the new councilor for the Presidency, followed by other councilors including Alícia Romero for Economy and Finance, Núria Parlon for Interior and Public Security, Ramón Espadaler for Justice and Democratic Quality, and Sílvia Paneque for Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, among others.
In his address following the swearing-in, President Illa emphasized the public service commitment of his executive members. "The Govern will govern for all. That is the true concern and obsession that I have," he stated, congratulating the nine women and seven men in his cabinet. He affirmed their dedication to the service of the country, asserting, "We will assume our responsibility at all times and circumstances with the pursuit of the common good and the defense of Catalonia as the only criteria for action."
Illa also noted a shift towards a new era filled with challenges and opportunities, valuing a plurinational Spain and a shared public space within Europe, envisioning a Europe with a federal future. A notable highlight of the day was the establishment of the newly created Ministry of Language Policy, a product of agreements with ERC, underscoring the importance of protecting the Catalan language as vital to Catalonia’s identity. The need for a dedicated Ministry of Sports was also acknowledged, reflecting the justified demands of the sector.
The president extended his gratitude to his predecessor, Pere Aragonès, and the former Govern for their model of transfer, and thanked both the ERC and Comuns for their dedication to Catalonia and for the investiture agreements that enabled the formation of his government.
Concluding his speech, Illa expressed his commitment to honoring the pledges made and working diligently to fulfill the hopes of the people of Catalonia, emphasizing the will to be and to coexist as a united community.
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