Esquerra means to lay the foundations of the Catalan Republic with the post Covid reactivation, in defiance of those who want to “prop up the regime of the 1978 Constitution”

From reconstruction to the Republic. That is the cornerstone for Esquerra Republicana when it comes to setting the foundational changes to overcome the economic, social and political crisis after the Covid-19 pandemic. In a session on reconstruction at the Parliament of Catalonia, the Secretary General of Esquerra Republicana and Member of Parliament Marta Vilalta defended that reactivating the country means overcoming the phase of collective social resistance and moving away from recentralization in Spain, to turn the post-Covid scenario into an opportunity to turn the social model inside out.

“Now is the time to switch from resisting to rebuilding, and time to move from reconstruction to the Catalan Republic, which we know is the only alternative to ensure the well-being, progress, and equal opportunities for the citizens of our country,” said Ms Vilalta.

For Esquerra “any reconstruction is incomplete without the tools and resources of a State,” and she added that “We choose to build the foundations of the Catalan Republic, a gateway for individual rights and freedom, a progressive, republican path, a course for the majority of the population, an emancipatory, pro-independence path.”

Which is why Ms Vilalta also warned that post-crisis economic and social reconstruction requires active policies that “are not neutral” and that Esquerra bases on seven priorities. “This moment can be a second transition to overthrow the regime, or a turning point for the social transformation that will bring us closer to the Catalan Republic” she insisted, in a call for hope and zeal.

The Deputy Secretary General thus made it clear that neither the pandemic nor the management of reconstruction can set back the resolution of the political conflict between Catalonia and Spain. “We do not wish to give up on dialogue, nor do we want to give up on negotiations to force the state’s hand. We believe the negotiating table [between the two governments] is essential,” she cautioned.

The Vice-President of the Catalan Government, Pere Aragonès, and all the ministers also took part in the debate. “We cannot accept that we should be required to give up on what we believe in, our political projects, or a government committed to independence at the service of the people and of social justice,” said Mr Aragonés. And with an eye on economic recovery, Mr Aragonés focused on the country’s strategic sectors, with the welfare state at the centre, as well as digitalisation and the ecological transition. To finance this, Covid funds and a new deficit target will be needed. “I think there must be a clear commitment in this regard; otherwise, many of the measures will not have the necessary funds,” said the Vice-President of the government addressing the Spanish State.