Before the summer, in Junts there was a certain tranquility about the continuity in the Government with ERC, but now all the responsibility is left in the hands of the militancy and the possibility that the divorce is signed is growing. The party is divided. Some make explicit the will to continue, such as the Minister of Economy, James Giroor the ‘consellera’ d’Acció Exterior, Victoria Alsina. Others, especially supporters of the president Laura Borrasthey are in the scenario they wanted: a head-on collision with Esquerra prior to the one they want to undertake against the State. And another part is silent. But what cost would it have for the party to leave the Government?
Junts controls the vice-presidency of the Government, the Ministry of Economy and important areas such as health, infrastructure, social policies, university policy and research. Mastering these areas serves to defend day-to-day work, although there are post-convergent sectors that prioritize selling themselves as a movement for independence over regional management.
Losing the Government is also losing high ranks (between 250 and 300), which in turn implies losing money (more than 23 million in salaries) and influence. Money with which the parties are financed – with more or less voluntary contributions from these positions – and that in the case of a new formation such as Junts is especially necessary for the process of territorial deployment in which it is involved. And influence, because these charges are the ones who run the day-to-day of the ‘conselleries’ and can get sympathy towards the party thanks to the action of the Government in sensitive areas.
Supporters and detractors
The ‘lauristas’ have been demanding to leave the Government for months. In fact, Borràs was never in favor of entering it. So in the face of tension like the current one, in which in the eyes of Junts, ERC is not complying with the pro-independence roadmap, Borràs and his supporters (Jaume Alonso Cuevillas, Francesc de Dalmases and Aurora Madaula) have more incentives than ever to row in favor of the break. The ‘former president’ Carles Puigdemontthe undisputed leader of the project, although he has abandoned his charges, also rows against the pact (and his trusted men, Toni Comin Y Joseph Rius) and he demonstrates it with his periodic statements in which he puts his finger in the eye of Esquerra, his great rival.
But in front of them are the majority of ‘consellers’. the economy, James Giroand that of Foreign Action, Victoria Alsina, refuse to leave the Government is a mistake, due to the loss of power and influence. But other holders of ‘consellerias’ think the same, like Lourdes Ciuro Y Violant Cervera: Barely a year and a half after entering the Executive and trying to manage economic and social improvements, leaving the Consell Executiu is a mistake due to the loss of this political leverage and because Junts has to be, they argue, a party in favor of independence, yes, but also a serious training that solves the problems of citizenship in the meantime. Namely, the neoconvergent spirit of Junts He flatly rejects losing a force with which to try to get more support, more votes and more power. It remains to be seen the position that Turull takes.
The municipal elections, keys
To leave the Government or not, Junts has another key element on the table: the municipal elections next spring. For the party they are key, essential, decisive, to observe if the party withstands the pull of ERC, or if it goes down. Everything in Junts was prepared to focus the political course on the municipal ones: announcing the signing of former PDECat convergents, looking for transversal candidates and trying to stand up to Esquerra, but the internal clash and the instability of the Consell Executiu play against this strategy. They blur priorities. And they have many leaders in a state of high concern, because they fear that this permanent crisis will take its toll on them.
It is not the same for a mayor or Junts candidate to go to the elections with a Government at his side, with ‘consellers’ who can ‘sell’ the progress being made in the municipality, than to do so with a cover letter based on the Rupture of the Govern with ERC and external and internal tension that it will generate. PDECat candidates who want to go over to Junts will have fewer incentives to do so if they see that they are dealing with a conflictive political formation instead of a centrist government party, which are the hallmarks of post-convergence.