Junts per Catalunya has issued a scathing review of President Salvador Illa's leadership, asserting that his administration has worsened conditions in the region. The party highlights failures in public services and infrastructure as key issues.
In a stark assessment of the current Catalan government, Junts per Catalunya has accused President Salvador Illa of leading the region into decline. During a press conference, Mònica Sales, the party’s leader in the Catalan Parliament, stated that after two years under Illa’s leadership, “the country is worse off.” She emphasized that public services have deteriorated significantly and that middle-class citizens are feeling increasingly burdened.
Sales pointed out that mobility issues have become a daily nightmare for residents. “Rodalies is like Russian roulette,” she remarked, referring to the unreliable commuter train service. The AP-7 highway has also been described as perpetually congested. According to Junts, these infrastructural problems reflect a broader failure of governance.
The party’s critique extends beyond transportation; they argue that education is suffering due to governmental incompetence. Sales claimed that recent controversies within the Department of Education are jeopardizing an entire generation’s future. “The school system is losing quality while we face unresolved teacher shortages,” she asserted.
In housing policy, Junts expressed hope that a recent ruling by the Consell de Garanties Estatutàries could signal a shift away from what they describe as ineffective policies promoted by the socialist-led government. They criticized these approaches for creating more legal uncertainty and driving up housing costs.
Security concerns were also highlighted in their evaluation. Sales noted an alarming increase in crime rates and claimed that offenders now operate with greater impunity than ever before. This situation has contributed to rising tensions within communities across Catalunya.
“Everything this government touches gets worse,” Sales declared emphatically, accusing Illa of failing to deliver on promises while masking shortcomings with propaganda efforts. She attributed much of this failure to what she termed Illa’s subservience to Madrid rather than advocating for Catalonia’s interests.
The lack of state investment in Catalunya was another point of contention for Junts. Sales argued that much of this neglect stems from Illa’s compliance with central government directives: “He is not Catalunya’s voice in Madrid; he is PSOE’s voice here.”
Looking ahead, Junts plans to advocate for a unified front regarding economic agreements during upcoming discussions at the Council of Fiscal Policy scheduled for September 4th. They are pushing for comprehensive fiscal autonomy rather than piecemeal concessions.
On immigration matters, particularly concerning minors arriving from Ceuta, Sales made it clear that Junts would not support measures bringing additional minors into Catalunya without adequate resources: “We have reached our capacity,” she stated firmly.
Finally, addressing Oriol Junqueras’ proposal for expert oversight in education management over twelve years, Sales welcomed this idea but noted its timing was curious given previous budget negotiations. She expressed willingness to discuss it further during an upcoming parliamentary session focused on education set for October 20-22.
This critical stance from Junts underscores growing dissatisfaction among some political factions regarding current governance and sets the stage for potential shifts in policy direction as discussions continue into autumn.
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