Together for Catalonia has opened the debate on the immigration and the eventual expulsion of criminals multiple repeat offenders. And he has done it conscientiously and with a high degree of internal cohesion. The management considers that, despite the fact that the pact with the PSOE for the delegation of powers to the Generalitattaking the initiative has been correct because the immigration issue is of social concern and the possible emergence of the extreme right-wing independence movement of Silvia Orriols to the Parliament had to be blocked by the party so as not to lose votes. Having generated unrest in the ERC Government is, furthermore, an element that unites JxCat at a time when the party is experiencing some internal turbulence, especially in its parliamentary group.
“We must face the question of the sense of national community, of shared identity, we must work on a social contract that addresses matters such as rights and duties or the use of public space. There is an excess of goodism and indoctrination“, reflects a leader. His idea is shared: we must talk about the migratory phenomenon and issues such as unaccompanied minors, the use of the veil or the racism of the youngest.
The ‘expresident’ Carles Puigdemont He already marked the way when in September he set the conditions for the investiture of Pedro Sánchez and in that intervention in Brussels he made explicit reference to the percentage of immigration existing in Catalonia. The victory of the pro-independence extreme right in Ripoll set off alarm bells and even the president of the party, Laura Borràs, suggested the idea to leave room for a possible agreement with Orriols.
Expel multiple repeat offenders? Depends
Internally, it is ensured that the debate on repeat offenders is not the same as the debate on immigration. But the truth is that he has been the general secretary himself, Jordi Turull, who has publicly stated that JxCat claims immigration powers to decide whether or not to expel this profile of criminals and under what conditions. And in general the idea at Junts is that this is an option that must be considered, with all the nuances and in a surgical manner. “The problem has to be solved, through the reform of the Penal Code and in the case of foreigners without papers, although it is not always easy, I agree with returning them to their country“says a party official who knows the field of security, and assures that these criminals do not always respond to a socioeconomic problem of precariousness, but in certain cases they are their ‘modus vivos’.
Although the party trusts that the Orriols phenomenon will dissolve in the same way it swelled thanks to its media presence and diving into a breeding ground of social tension in Ripoll after the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, the internal analysis is clear: “Asks the right questions, but with monstrous answers“. The conviction again is that “we cannot ignore the elephant that is installed” in Catalan society. “No one talks about it, and when it is governed, even less so; There has to be some kind of reform or review, and the first to talk about expulsions was [el ministro Alfredo Pérez] Rubalcaba, of the PSOE, and the tripartite, as Turull recalled,” points out a position who knows directly the situation in Ripoll and who, before Orriols, proposes the following recipe: “Talk about the issue and the cultural, social, educational and security derivatives and find solutions so that the extreme right does not capitalize on them. Do not hide your head like ostriches“. “It’s taboo,” he concludes.
However, this speech coexists with others, such as the one contained in an internal document, published by THE NEWSPAPER, much more integrative and that wonders how many immigrants Junts has on its lists. “The recidivism of criminals must be dealt with, but let’s not single out groups”; says a person from the executive, who calls for a rigorous debate. All in all, this person agrees with the general diagnosis: “The problem exists“.
For this reason, Junts will raise, in its convention on the matter, issues such as the distribution of immigrants (Junts believes that a higher number arrives in Catalonia than would be proportionately), the improvement of economic income to carry out social integration policies, it will address the issue of Catalan and also security. It will continue to combine an integrative discourse with that of security to attract dissatisfied voters, compete with Orriols without imitating it and confronting the most progressive policies.
ERC “horns attack”
Junts considers that, by opening this melon, he is plugging the wound of Orriolswhich takes the reins of immigration and which, in addition, has caused a “horn attack“in ERC due to the pact by which the PSOE undertakes to deploy a law of delegation of powers on immigration to the Generalitat, although everything is waiting to be materialized in an organic law that, as this newspaper advanced, they will present jointly in the Congress.
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In JxCat, this perception that its rival is moving at a different pace, criticizing what was agreed by Junts, weighs much more than the evidence that it is about to determine the scope of the powers that the Generalitat will end up achieving, given that the president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezhas already assured that the management of the borders and, therefore, the expulsions is and will be the responsibility of the State.
Junts accuses the Government of hiding in the immigration debate, of making a speech “goodist“and of lacking a reference figure in the Executive on immigration policies. The party is convinced that issues such as the percentage of unaccompanied minor immigrants who arrive in Catalonia must be addressed with the Government, because the criterion is set by the Central administration. “For ERC it is humiliating“Having been left out, settles a party position.