Daniel G. Tailor
Barcelona April 7, 2021. 19:07
Image: Salvador Illa. FERRAN NADEU
The idea is related to the one launched by Pasqual Maragall after the 1999 elections
The PSC is still not resigned to Salvador Illa not becoming president of the Generalitat. The party believes that the bad relationship between the pro-independence parties means that its candidate still has options to lead the Government. But, aware that it is unlikely that ERC and JxCat will not finally agree, they are already preparing a “shadow Government” in case they have to remain in the opposition.
The objective, according to sources familiar with the project, would be to make visible that there is “an alternative way of working” to that of the pro-independence crew, who according to the socialists are only concerned about the evolution of the ‘procés‘. This team, on the other hand, would be very focused on the fight against the pandemic and would be in charge of maintaining a dialogue with different sectors.
The idea, advanced by ‘El Confidencial’ and already outlined by Illa during the campaign, connects with the one launched by Pasqual Maragall in 1999, after winning the elections against Jordi Pujol in votes but losing them in seats. On this occasion, Illa has also obtained the majority of votes, and has tied 33 deputies with Pere Aragonès, the ERC candidate.
Maragall included in that “Government in the shadow”, which he presented in October 2000, names that later formed part of the tripartite that the PSC, ERC and ICV-EUiA agreed in 2003, such as Joaquim Nadal, Josep Maria Vallès, Antoni Siurana, Marina Geli, Josep María Rañé or Montserrat Tura.
Only MPs
As on that occasion, Illa’s “shadow Government” would be composed only of socialist MPs, who would assume an area of action with the aim of making a “marking” to each ‘regional ministry’. Despite the fact that, during the campaign, the socialist candidate announced some of the names he had intended to entrust with the exercise of responsibilities if he came to the Generalitat – such as that of Maurici Lucena for the economic vice-presidency or that of Dr. Olga Pané for Health-, sources of the party emphasize that it would be “difficult to involve in this project people who have their lives outside the Parliament”.”We have not yet entered into names”, they say.
Above all, it would be a matter of underlining that the pro-independence Government, if confirmed, “would be born dead”, and that the Catalans could see “in that scenario” how an alternative team would move with other priorities that, in the opinion of the Socialists, sympathize better with those of all citizens.
https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20210407/psc-prepara-govern-sombra-11638892
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