Oriol Junqueras: "We don't want the PP and Vox to govern, but the priority is Catalonia."

Oriol Junqueras (Barcelona, 1969) returned to the leadership of Esquerra Republicana last December. The Republican leader reviews the current political situation in La Vanguardia , the main challenge of which has been—and will continue to be—the financing model.

Do you feel represented by the bilateral agreement between the Government and the Generalitat?

We don't feel represented. The financing model has been outdated for 11 years, seven of which were spent by Ms. Montero as Minister of Finance. During this time, the State has seen its revenues double, while the autonomous communities have lost significant spending and investment capacity. This harms society as a whole. Financing can only be resolved if the principle of ordinality is respected. If Catalonia is the third largest contributor of resources per capita, it cannot be that, after the distribution of public spending, it is the fourteenth. The agreement announced a few days ago is frankly disappointing.

In short, they do not agree with the pact.

Exactly. It's disappointing for these two reasons: the Tax Agency lacks autonomy, and there's a lack of specifics regarding personal income tax collection. Catalonia needs and deserves a good financing system, and we're a long way from achieving one. What the PSOE must do is comply with the agreements. And if an agreement was signed stating that Catalonia will be able to manage its taxes, starting with personal income tax, what it must do is comply with it.

But there's a problem that doesn't depend on the central government: we need technical and human resources, which don't exist. Those of us who remember remember how, during the independence process, you said everything was ready. It doesn't seem that way.

When ERC assumed responsibility for the Economy and Finance, one of the many things it did was expand the ATC (Tax Administration). We went from fewer than 300 employees to almost 1,000. We made a significant leap, also in terms of IT. It's clear that in the years since then, these IT systems may not always be as up-to-date as they were at the time. But, in any case, Catalonia is in a position to manage its taxes.

Financing "The agreement between the Government and the Generalitat is frankly disappointing."

To achieve this goal, at least three laws must be changed in Congress.

Our aim is to present a bill that will allow the necessary parliamentary majority to channel the tax collection capacity in Catalonia. We hope it will happen soon. The important thing is that there is a bill and that it can achieve the necessary parliamentary majority. Having a parliamentary majority is not a luxury; it's a necessity. If there isn't a majority, there won't be a valid bill.

As the promoter of this law, they are talking to all the allies.

We try to talk to everyone. We try to talk about this issue and many others.

Are they on the phone?

Yes. Generally, people are polite and answer the phone.

When you present the project, do you have any guarantee that the PSOE will support it?

We're working to gain support. Now, the decision will be made by the PSOE.

I mean, they don't have it now.

We had an agreement with the PSOE that spoke of ordinality. It was Minister Montero who decided that it didn't appear in the regulatory text, but in the preamble. When the PSOE changes agreements, it's clear that we are not responsible for these changes. We are responsible for how we respond. We will respond by reminding the PSOE that we are also part of the broad and diverse majority it needs on so many issues—in fact, all of them.

This has a lot to do with his support for Pedro Sánchez.

ERC has no interest in a PP-Vox government. At the same time, ERC defends the interests of Catalonia. In order to defend these interests, the PSOE must honor its agreements and be ambitious. There are positive aspects, such as the Rodalies agreement. Some are in place, others are not.

The Spanish legislature "In what remains to be improved by the PSOE, we will try to support it."

Let's make a headline: Is the priority to avoid a PP and Vox government, or is it Catalonia?

We don't want the PP and Vox to govern, but the priority is Catalonia. There's no need for a PP and Vox government because we know how they operate. They've demonstrated it when they've had the opportunity, and throughout history, they and those before them have had many. But I insist, the PSOE has to improve many things. In those that remain to be improved, we will try to support it. We, and I hope the entire majority, because otherwise there's no way forward.

They disagree with the Socialists over El Prat airport.

Esquerra Republicana is in favor of improving everything, including the airport, which can improve if it has its own governance system. Aena's governance is characterized by everything except transparency. We are in favor of a satellite terminal that would reduce passenger waiting times to board planes or improving rail connections. Regarding the extension of a runway, once it's lengthened, it will continue to be shorter than the one that already exists. It doesn't make sense.

In the current context, is Esquerra not willing to talk about a budget for 2026?

Correct.

But then how does the legislature continue?

We would always like to have the best possible budgets, but without a good financing model and a good tax collection model, the budgets will not be the best possible because many resources will be lacking.

Rufián's coalition "What is possible in the European elections is very difficult in the Spanish elections; they are two different elections."

And how does the project championed by its spokesperson in Madrid, Gabriel Rufián, for a plurinational alliance fit into that?

I have great sympathy for all my colleagues and, as everyone knows, for Gabriel Rufián. But what is possible in the European elections is much more difficult in the Spanish elections. We are facing two completely different electoral models. On the other hand, for this proposal to move forward, it would need the support of Bildu, the BNG, or Podemos, and it doesn't have that because they have distanced themselves from this proposal. In any case, it's a respectable idea, difficult to implement. Furthermore, any decision regarding coalitions is a decision that the Esquerra membership will have to make through its national council.

And with Podemos?

In any case, it would be necessary for all parties in favor of Catalan independence to be part of this proposal, and it's clear that Podemos isn't. Not only are they not in favor of independence, they aren't even in favor of us exercising powers over immigration. They argue that if Catalonia had them, the Mossos d'Esquadra would be a gang of racists. With these kinds of arguments, it's impossible for us to reach an agreement.