The decision of the European justice just a few hours before the beginning of the electoral campaign of 23J was considered in the post-convergence as a ‘win-win’. If he won, the ‘expresident’ Carlos Puigdemont could defend that Europe shielded its rights before the Spanish justice system, obtaining a setback with which it aspired to annul the political-judicial management of the ‘procés’ and, especially, the negotiation of Esquerra with the Government for the granting of pardons and the reform of the Penal Code. If he lost, as has happened, Junts intended to reinforce him anyway as the combative leader of 1-O, willing to use him to remind the Republicans that no matter how much deinflammation of the ‘procés’ that there is on account of the dialogue between governments, he continues abroad and subject to the judicial journey, waging a pulse with the judge Pablo Llarena. In short, Puigdemont himself was an amendment to the dialogue table. But the defeat in Europe has been so assumed that the ‘expresident’ himself admitted that he did not expect it.
The sentence has been handed down, but it is not final: Puigdemont and the ‘ex-consellers’ Toni Comin and Clara Ponsati They no longer have immunity as MEPs, so Llarena can reactivate the Euro-orders so that they can be extradited and tried in Spain. Before, there will be resistance: the appeal before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJUE) -no matter how much Llarena chooses to request the return to Spain without it being resolved- and a procedural battle, because the independence movement defends that the judge of the supreme court (TS) must file another request, on account of the reform of the Penal Code.
Puigdemont and Junqueras
The campaign begins tonight at midnight and the struggle for independence intensifies. Puigdemont insisted again, this time from the RAC1 microphones, that members of the PSOE offered him a pardon, something that the Socialists and several government ministers deny. He said it to assure later that he would disdain it -alleging that it is a personal solution that does not resolve the Catalan conflict-, but he was met with the reminder of oriol junqueraswith whom they have not spoken for more than a year – “pardons are granted, not accepted” – and the PP hastened to accuse the PSOE of having a “hidden pact” with Puigdemont.
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In the Junts barracks there is no doubt that the European setback must be squeezed, no matter how much it was not the desired one and that the dent of the pardons can mobilize the discontent independence movement: “Puigdemont acts following a legal, personal logic, but you have to take advantage of it”. In fact, the appeals are already focused on asking for a massive vote to show “support” for the three MEPs. Junts’ options in the generals are entrusted to two veterans: Puigdemont and Xavier Trias. The first, as a striker against ERC; the second, as a thrown weapon against the PSC for the ouster in Barcelona.
In Esquerra there is caution, but they are aware that this time Europe sides with the Supreme Court and that this does not directly clash with his criticism of the judiciary nor does it damage his strategy of dialogue because, after all, it was thought between governments, between legislatures, on account of the judicialization of politics and the politicization of Justice. And Puigdemont, in the event that he is extradited, will benefit from the penal reform that they promoted. So the arguments are ready: ERC will show off the dejudicialization with the penal reform and pardons; and Junts will opt for the ‘puigdemontista’ battle in Europe. The polls will reveal who wins the game this time.