Carles Puigdemont gives in to Pedro Sánchez

PSOE and the separatist movement are engaged in what's called "changing the narrative." Above all, it's the separatist movement led by former president Puigdemont: he needs to go from "I won't make Sánchez president" to justifying that he has done so. This explains why, for now, everything consists of symbolic concessions, flexing muscles, and the occasional nod: the latest one, just yesterday.

From having no reasons to having to justify them

"Exactly what incentives do we have to make a liar president?" Puigdemont dixi. The transition from these words to Junts's "reincorporation" into the political game is what needs to be understood. Because the information we are receiving about the dialogue tables, the verifier, and so on is tainted as it comes directly from those involved.

What do PSOE and especially Junts need now? Time, and to do something with that time. That is, to agree that we'll meet, agree on where we'll do it, with whom, whether there will be someone in between, etc. Secrecy and opacity are a byproduct of this lack of definition: both need to proceed gradually so as not to lose a position of strength in case the talks fail.

For now, the concessions will be symbolic, which is a palatable way of saying undefined. There's a revealing symptom of this: both parties keep talking about how they don't trust each other. In any case, Puigdemont seems delighted with the apparent position of strength Sánchez has given him with his latest statements.

Junts hears what they want to hear

The interview President Pedro Sánchez gave yesterday on TVE pleased Junts. The president said there would be a verifier and other such folklore and admitted something similar to lawfare. The truth is that at no point did he utter the word, and when he did, it was to talk about "essentialization of the police" regarding PP corruption cases.

From Brussels, in short, they hear what they want to hear and say they're delighted that Sánchez admits to lawfare. In statements to El Español, Junts members explain that Sánchez "keeps saying what he needs to say for this to get started." Likewise, they say exactly the same thing Sánchez says about them: that this pact responds to parliamentary needs.

In this regard, Junts sources tell El Español that their relationship with PSOE is "arithmetic." They add, "We aren't part of that left-wing majority against the right that Sánchez boasts about." What's striking is that Junts is heading into negotiations at the same time PSC is getting ahead of them in Catalonia.