On the day that marks the second anniversary of the investiture of Pere Aragonès as president of Catalonia, the deputy of the pro-independence Popular Unity Candidature (CUP), Carles Riera, has regretted that "there is nothing left of the investiture agreement", and has acknowledged that when the CUP voted for the Republican Left (ERC) leader to form a government, they believed that the electoral results could make possible a turn towards the left and towards Catalan independence, but he believes that the opposite has happened and "ERC has veered in a conservative and autonomist direction". Regarding the CUP's agreement with ERC, which paved the way for the later government pact between ERC and Together for Catalonia (Junts), he affirmed that it was never complied with: "They left it dead". In an interview this Friday on Catalunya Ràdio, Riera reiterated that the CUP does not believe in the dialogue table with the Spanish state or on the basis that it was set up, since they consider that "it does not lead anywhere, in no way leads us to self-determination". And, according to Riera, "without any desire on the part of the Catalan government to generate a new democratic onslaught," he says that it only serves to defuse the conflict and strengthen the Spanish government. "We were planning to prepare a new contention against the Spanish government in the meantime."
The PSC, partner of ERC and Junts
Carles Riera asserts that Aragonès will see the legislature through its remaining two years because his party intends to finish it. However, he added that "ERC has gained oxygen by turning towards governing with the PSC (Catalan Socialists) and the employers' groups. The PSC is the main partner, not only of ERC but of Junts as well". Riera affirmed that to generate an attack against the Spanish state a political pro-independence majority is needed, and recognized that the CUP alone cannot achieve this, but pointed out that "currently ERC and Junts are part of the problem and not the solution". For this reason, he urged them to review their road maps, since "to generate majorities, shared approaches are needed both on the street and in the institutions".
From the CUP they claim that in order to move towards independence "we must enter a new phase of conflict, of confrontation with the state". To achieve this, Riera encouraged the pro-independence social movement to once again occupy the streets and overwhelm the institutions. The radical-left deputy argued that "this [the independence issue] will be resolved by voting", and to reach this scenario in the context of the Spanish state there must be a break with it. "If it is appropriate, overwhelming the Constitution and the Autonomy Statute", he affirmed.
The independence movement's new scenario
The CUP deputy stated that Catalonia is in a new scenario compared to 2017, which is marked by a context of crisis, but "the conflict with the state from the point of view of independence remains valid". Riera accused the Pere Aragonès government of being the ones who have turned the page, since, he notes that the independence movement once again showed its muscle during the visit of Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez, in the context of the Spanish-French summit in January. He is aware, however, that the movement must be remade, rethought and reorganized. "The main concern is getting the muscle back and mobilizing." For the CUP the priority is to return to the streets and with strength: "If [major civil group the Catalan National Assembly] stops concerning itself with this, to instead do politics, someone else will have to take charge".