It was not a random decision when the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) chose to begin its post-election contacts to form a new Catalan government with the Popular Unity Candidature (CUP) - the smallest and furthest left of the three pro-independence parties in the Catalan Parliament. Rather, it was a strategic move aimed at indirectly pressuring Carles Puigdemont's Together for Catalonia (Junts) through the policy specifics reached with the CUP. This Tuesday morning, Sergi Sabrià, member of the ERC negotiating delegation, announced that the conversations were going better with the far-left party than with Puigdemont's group, with whom it has been more difficult to reach agreements. Shortly after Sabrià's announcement, ERC met again with both parties separately. In the case of the CUP, ERC describes the new meeting as a "step forward". So far, however, no specific agreement has been reached, but the main lines are taking shape.
Today's ERC-CUP meeting served to move to a new stage, after the first contacts had focused on the current debate on the security and public order model of Catalonia. This Monday, both parties opened up new areas, in which they found more common ground, particularly relating to left-wing social policies. On the table today was the issue of overcoming the economic crisis arising from the pandemic. Specifically, the two delegations talked about housing and health policies, and the strengthening of public services in general. The CUP, for example, demands that health care be 100% public and that all pending privatizations be reversed.
At the same time, another pending question has been opened up, related to the next steps to be taken in this legislature on the road to Catalan independence. In this case, the two parties share the view that a referendum needs to be held once again.
After the meeting, both parties agreed that progress is being made, but without a doubt, ERC put the most optimistic spin on it, with phrases such as "a step forward in negotiations" and "remarkable progress".
The CUP, more prudent, looks towards Junts and Comuns
The anti-capitalist CUP preferred to be more cautious, warning that the sides are not yet able to make detailed agreements, and making it clear that "all scenarios are open". The CUP also raised its gaze to the other two actors in the negotiations to form a government. "We are working to see to what extent there is commitment, not only on the part of ERC, but also from Junts and the Comuns," said CUP deputy Xavi Pellicer, in a press conference. The Comuns (En Comú Podem) are a possible fourth partner in the new Catalan government - left-wing, partners of Podemos and thus part of the Spanish government, and not pro-independence.
As for the other focus of negotiations, the model of public order, the CUP has noted that it does not seem unreasonable to hold a more general debate on security in the medium and long term, but insisted that there are urgent issues that need to be resolved immediately: the use of foam projectiles by police, the Catalan government's own private prosecutions of protesters, the role of the BRIMO riot squad in housing evictions, and the impunity of police misconduct. These are, say the CUP, issues on which “consensuses are urgent” and on which, in addition to ERC, Junts and the Comuns must be committed.
VIDEO | The CUP's Xavi Pellicer and Laia Estrada: "We don't want to share out chairs, we want political agreements as a way of advancing"
In the main image, a moment of a vote in the Parliament of Catalonia / ACN