Salvador Illa to Meet Carles Puigdemont in Brussels Amid Tensions
Salvador Illa, the Socialist president of Catalonia and a close ally of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is set to meet exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont in Brussels on Tuesday to “normalise relations” between Sánchez’s Socialists and Junts, whose seven MPs are vital to the government’s majority., reports 24brussels.
A spokesperson for Junts confirmed the discussions, emphasizing their intention to “normalise relations.” An advisor to Illa noted that there was “no single reason or topic for the meeting,” framing it as part of Illa’s initiative to engage with former Catalan presidents.
“Now is the time to send a message about the importance of dialogue in democracy,” the advisor added.
This meeting coincides with Spain’s Council of Ministers approving an €85 billion debt write-off for autonomous regions, including Catalonia, a controversial decision linked to an agreement between Sánchez’s PSOE and the pro-independence ERC.
Relations between PSOE and Junts have deteriorated due to unfulfilled commitments surrounding Sánchez’s 2023 re-election, notably the repayment of a purported €50 billion regional debt, the full enactment of the amnesty law, and the recognition of Catalan as an EU language. The amnesty law, which aims to nullify criminal charges related to Catalonia’s 2017 independence referendum, including those against Puigdemont, is facing resistance from Spain’s judiciary and scrutiny from Brussels.
Previously “monthly meetings” had remained discreet, according to a Socialist spokesperson, but Illa’s public engagement with Puigdemont in Brussels signifies a notable shift. Sources within the PSOE suggested that this meeting could potentially be a precursor to a direct encounter between Sánchez and Puigdemont, which Sánchez has previously avoided.
The opposition has criticized this initiative. “Illa travels to Brussels as Sánchez’s messenger, as a puppet, willing to do whatever it takes to save him and stay in power, even if that means surrendering the dignity of our country’s institutions,” stated Jorge Fernández, parliamentary spokesperson for the Catalan Popular Party.
Critics are also concerned that this meeting could provide political legitimacy to Puigdemont, despite Spain’s Supreme Court maintaining embezzlement charges against him concerning the 2017 independence referendum and refusing to grant him full amnesty. Justice Minister Felix Bolaños has denounced the Supreme Court’s “legal and political” rationale and, alongside other Socialist ministers, accused the prosecutor of “overstepping his authority.”
Meanwhile, the legal battle surrounding Puigdemont’s status continues. On Thursday, the Advocate General of the EU Court of Justice is expected to deliver a non-binding opinion on Puigdemont’s appeal against the withdrawal of his parliamentary immunity. A final judgment regarding the compliance of Spain’s amnesty law with EU regulations is anticipated later this year.
