ERC faces the renewal of its leadership, with the decision on the governance of Catalonia in between

Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) opens a new chapter this Monday with the formal resignation of its president, Oriol Junqueras, pending the decision of the armed forces at the November 30 congress whether they will trust him again as leader of the party, or whether they will definitively will conclude a phase that has begun. in 2011.

Junqueras will formalize his resignation at the permanent assembly on Monday and tomorrow, Tuesday, he will go to party headquarters to collect his belongings. According to ERC sources, the functions of the presidency will belong to Rovira as general secretary.

Thus, Junqueras becomes an ordinary militant, that is to say, without an office, without a computer, party car or driver, even though he will continue to receive the monthly contribution that ERC awards to leaders disqualified from public office – in his case until 2031. , waiting until the amnesty takes effect – a disqualification that also prevents him from teaching at the university.

What Junqueras has not made clear is whether he will decide in the coming months on the important decisions that the ERC management will have to make.

While the daisy is being picked, the Republicans hold the future of the governability of the Generalitat of Catalonia in their hands, as its twenty deputies could be decisive in the socialist elections. Salvador Illa be invested as president of the Generalitat. The negotiations will be coordinated from Switzerland by Marta Rovira and the Republicans have already made it clear to the PSC that if they want their votes, they must accept their proposal for “single financing” for Catalonia. Finally, the decision on the investiture will be submitted to consultation with the party members.

Farewell to the Junqueras-Rovira tandem

The tandem formed by Oriol Junqueras (chairman) and Marta Rovira (General Secretary) led ERC for 13 years, including the entire ‘trials’, overcoming organizational difficulties such as the Junqueras prison and Rovira’s march to Switzerland to avoid the action of Justice. However, the road has ended after three consecutive electoral setbacks, which crystallized in an internal uproar on May 15, three days after the Catalan debacle (from 33 to 20 seats).

Rovira He announced that he will resign as secretary general of the party at the November congress. President Pere had previously announced a step back Aragonese. Junqueras, after publishing a letter stating that he was feeling “strong”, he reported that he would step aside the day after the European elections, with the aim of reaffirming the party’s leadership in November. In any case, militancy will have the last word in the national congress.