The Board of Spokespersons at the Parlament de Catalunya, Catalonia's legislature, blocked an urgent appearance by president Salvador Illa on 18 July 2026 over the PISA testing controversy, according to reporting by El Nacional.

For families following concerns about the education system, and commuters awaiting political scrutiny of Rodalies rail disruption, the decision means Illa will not face an immediate parliamentary debate on those issues. The report says the three parties supporting his investiture, PSC, ERC and Comuns, have prevented urgent appearances on at least eight occasions since the current parliamentary term began.

September proposed for PISA discussion

Junts had requested that Illa appear before Parliament during the same week to address the PISA results. PSC, ERC and Comuns voted against holding an urgent plenary sitting.

ERC argued that Parliament should wait for clear conclusions before assigning responsibility and proposed taking up the appearance in September.

Comuns also backed delaying the debate until the available information could be examined publicly, while describing education minister Esther Niubó's explanations as disappointing.

Coalition majority has blocked at least eight urgent requests

El Nacional reported that the same PSC, ERC and Comuns majority has stopped at least eight requests for Illa to give urgent explanations on political, economic or social crises. The parties also provided the votes for Illa's investiture as president.

  • On 9 June 2026, PSC, ERC and Comuns rejected another request for Illa to appear over unrest in the education system.
  • On 18 July 2026, the Board of Spokespersons again rejected an immediate sitting on the PISA issue.
  • ERC's stated timetable was for Illa to appear before Parliament in September.

The report also noted that Parliament has censured three members of Illa's government: territory minister Sílvia Paneque, interior minister Núria Parlon and education minister Esther Niubó.

Reported by Source Text Link, Vicenç Pagès, Kiko Rincón / EUROPA PRESS, Josep Maria Botanch, pollar.news, 3CatInfo, Redacció SER, Gerard Mira, Quim Bertomeu,Carlota Camps,Sara González, lavanguardia.com, Gisela Boada, ENRIC SITJÀ / ACN, Xavi Tedó, Gemma Bastida, El Nacional.