Catalan political leaders clashed in the Parliament on Wednesday during a control session for the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa. The debate centred on a controversial budget agreement in Ripoll, Girona province, between local councillors from the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) and Sílvia Orriols' far-right Aliança Catalana.
Accusations of Hypocrisy
Alejandro Fernández, leader of the Catalan Popular Party (PP), accused both Illa and Orriols of hypocrisy. He highlighted their public disagreements in the autonomous chamber, contrasting them with the local budget agreement in Ripoll, a town in the Ripollès comarca. Fernández labelled them "the Pimpinela of the Parliament", referring to a famous Argentine-Spanish musical duo known for their dramatic arguments.
Fernández recalled that Illa had previously described Orriols as a "bad person", while Orriols had accused Illa of being complacent with jihadists, according to Ajuntament of Ripoll. However, Fernández concluded, "If it suits them, they make a pact." He denounced what he perceived as "hypocrisy, cynicism, and posturing," stating, "Mr Illa, Mrs Orriols, they are two sides of the same coin, both are a fraud."
Orriols Mocks PSC's Internal Crisis
Sílvia Orriols, a Member of Parliament and Mayor of Ripoll, responded with irony. She "thanked" Illa for approving her budgets. Orriols also described the subsequent dissolution of the PSC's local branch in Ripoll as a "masterstroke, unprecedented, to dismantle the PSC in Ripoll." The PSC's leadership, based at its headquarters in Pallars, Barcelona, had approved the decision by the Girona Comarcas Federation to dismiss the entire Ripoll executive and appoint a management committee.
Orriols additionally criticised other parties, including Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), Junts per Catalunya (Junts), and Candidatura d'Unitat Popular (CUP). She noted that ERC councillors in Ripoll had announced their intention to abstain on the budget if the PSC did not, thereby ensuring its passage and avoiding a vote of no confidence. Orriols also claimed that CUP and Junts councillors in Ripoll had voted in favour of "many" Aliança Catalana proposals.
Illa Defends Party Stance
In response to both Fernández and Orriols, President Illa firmly stated that neither his government nor his party would ever reach agreements with groups promoting hate speech. "Neither my government nor my party will ever reach agreements with those who defend hate speech, let that be clear to everyone," he reiterated. Illa made these statements multiple times, defending himself against the contradictions raised by Fernández and the comments from Orriols.
President Illa also criticised the Catalan PP leader for highlighting the Ripoll incident, while the Popular Party itself forms coalitions with Vox in other autonomous communities across Spain. Furthermore, Illa assured Orriols that the PSC would never align with those who make pacts with figures such as Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Donald Trump of the United States, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, or Alternative for Germany.
This parliamentary exchange underscores the deep political divisions and strategic complexities within Catalonia's political landscape. It highlights the challenges major parties face in maintaining ideological consistency across different levels of government, particularly when dealing with controversial political actors.
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Originally published by ABC Cataluña. Read original article.
