Sánchez's New Royal Decree: A Step Toward Reconciliation with Junts

On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that today’s Council of Ministers will approve a royal decree incorporating several agreements reached with Junts that remain unfulfilled. This decision comes amid an ongoing struggle for support from Puigdemont's party after they rejected any legislative initiatives from Sánchez's government last month, citing unmet demands. In his interviews with Rac1 and La2Cat, Sánchez took responsibility for these non-fulfillments, acknowledging the legitimate criticisms raised by Junts regarding delays. He believes the royal decree will enhance flexibility for local entities and municipalities when it comes to investment and will extend deadlines to advance the digitalization of invoicing processes within companies. By taking these steps, Sánchez seems eager to engage with Puigdemont's party, particularly after the latter's refusal to cooperate previously. Despite the current breakdown in dialogue, Sánchez expressed confidence that obligations must still be met. He does not view the legislative budgets as lost, admitting they may face challenges in a fragmented parliamentary landscape. "With these budgets, we can reach the end of the legislature, but we are not going to give up on approving them," he stated. Additionally, Sánchez highlighted past commitments fulfilled with Junts, including the implementation of co-official languages in Congress and the amnesty law, although he noted that the latter has yet to directly benefit Puigdemont. He expressed hope for the leader’s return to Catalonia, asserting that true normalization in the region hinges on it. In addressing another commitment involving ERC, Sánchez maintained a cautious stance on the topic of Catalonia's ability to collect all taxes, acknowledging the technical complexities involved. He indicated that while complete execution may not be possible in the immediate years, progress would still be pursued. Furthermore, he affirmed his intentions to reform the autonomous financing system to grant Catalonia increased self-governance and better tools to tackle local issues. Sánchez also commented on the ruling concerning the Attorney General of the State, Álvaro García Ortiz, admitting his disagreement with it. Although hesitant to engage in accusations of lawfare, he suggested that future rulings could yield different outcomes, as the current trial lacks conclusive evidence. On the subject of corruption allegations against his former Secretary of Organization, Ábalos, Sánchez firmly denied any collusion within his party, labeling the claims as lies intended to inflict harm. While asserting that everyone is entitled to defend themselves, he argued for responsibility in avoiding the dissemination of falsehoods. Nevertheless, he indicated that he would not pursue legal action against Ábalos regarding these allegations made coincidentally with his imprisonment. Overall, Sánchez's announcements aim to bridge gaps with Junts and demonstrate a commitment to fulfilling prior agreements, underscoring his hope for political stability and operational continuity amidst the challenges of a divided parliament. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2