Even though he tells us time and time again that he has retired, that he's very old and that now it's someone else's business, president Jordi Pujol must always be listened to. Especially at this juncture when the Catalan pro-independence parties are negotiating the investiture of Pedro Sánchez as Spanish PM and the political space to which he does not officially belong, but feels closest, holds the cards to decide whether Sánchez forms a government or goes to a new election on January 14th. Pujol took advantage of his visit to ElNacional.cat's new editorial office to comment on this exceptional political situation and send several pieces of advice to president Carles Puigdemont based on his experience after negotiating from the Palau de la Generalitat with his counterpart in Madrid's Moncloa for 23 years, from 1980 to 2003, in which there were terrible moments in the relationship and quite a few when things went much better, four with Felipe González and four with José María Aznar, until the latter made a more centralized Spain his political objective and shattered the then-existing model of autonomous communities.
Two things are important about Pujol's statements, which we published in the newspaper and which were made on our recently-completed television set: the first, that he should not fall into candour, but should be demanding with Pedro Sánchez so that they are unable to fool us. He explains that more than once it occurred that agreements were made that looked good on paper and yet, with the passing of years and governments, those accords lost their essence, they became worthless, like waste paper. The Catalan language is the example which he brings up the most, as well as that of identity. The first, as an issue that he always tried to preserve and, the second, as an expression of what is essential in order for Catalonia to continue being a nation. Both have been attacked this century with laws, rules, regulations and attitudes by that PSOE, with whom Pujol reached agreement, and much more by the PP, whose government he also supported.
It was not when they needed him, but when his votes were already worth less or were expendable and he had no leverage that could reverse the situation, such as the need for a majority in the Congress of Deputies. That is why he advises alertness and to make sure that any agreement reached has a sound basis, deeply rooted, to prevent the wind from blowing it all away at the first contretemps. In Madrid they know more about these things than anyone else. It is difficult for them to reach an agreement, but they are quick to undo it. That is why Pujol advises that Puigdemont must avoid being candid, that he must force the negotiation until he emerges victorious and must take advantage of the current situation for the good of Catalonia. He must correct the current deficits and ensure a new period of profound changes, a second transition, given that the first, that of 1978, is leaking like a sieve.
Pujol, who completed the 1996 Majestic agreement, of which he has always been proud, regards the current negotiations as part of a different political era, because the damage done since then has been significant and Catalonia has to take care of itself. This is also why president Carles Puigdemont spoke of an historic agreement if a political pact is signed, a concept that Pujol makes his own with similar words when he refers to a pact with an historic sense, which will last. "You have to do something that will last through history." The main difference between Pujol and González or Aznar is that the former has already abandoned the need to be a political actor. Meanwhile, the others do their best to prevail against their party leaders and continue to carry the baton from the outside. For that reason, González and Aznar need to be scathing and critical to continue in the media.
Pujol has already gone beyond this stage. He saves his experience for specific moments and yes, he has an opinion about almost everything, although he doesn't want to talk about almost anything. Especially if his words end up coming back like a boomerang against his own people. But, having passed his most controversial stage, he stands above the news with messages that are well understood and indispensable. They also make some people uncomfortable. Especially those who have always loved him in silence.