Signature Collection to Oust Pere Aragonès

The Post-Election Hangover of July 23 Continues to Make Waves. ERC's new setback could have long-term consequences, as the Republicans have faced two electoral failures and govern the Generalitat in a minority. An extremely weak situation that in any normal place would have led to early elections.

On one hand, there is PSC, which has been the leading force in three elections from the opposition (the Catalan elections of February 2021, the municipal elections of May 28, and the general elections of July 23). Salvador Illa would be in a position to request an early election from the President. But he awaits orders from Madrid, as PSOE needs ERC's support for Pedro Sánchez's investiture.

Meanwhile, there is the radical independence movement, which wants to completely sink Esquerra. On social media, they are spreading a petition to oust Pere Aragonès from the Generalitat. They are calling for new elections to form a new pro-independence majority.

Harsh Statement Against Aragonès

In a petition on change.org, they state that "an overwhelming majority of Catalans want to be an independent republic." And that ERC, Junts, or CUP agreed on Pere Aragonès's presidency to "culminate independence." "Today, not only has he failed to fulfill this point, but his party has broken all the agreed-upon commitments," the petition says.

The initiators of the petition criticize that "he remains in the presidency with only 33 deputies, an absolute minority." They attack him for agreeing on the budget by negotiating with PSC, "absolutely opposed to Catalonia's independence."

They accuse Aragonès of "lying" to the public for not fulfilling his electoral promises and of "betraying his major partner in the government." They point to ERC for "making deals with parties that imprison, judge, and persecute independence supporters."

Early Elections in Catalonia?

The promoters see "an urgent need" for Pere Aragonès's resignation and the calling of elections in Catalonia. Therefore, they are calling for a petition as a pressure measure for early elections.

Although it is not specified, the tone of the text and some details, such as referring to Aragonès's party as 'ER,' make it clear that it comes from the Junts sphere. For now, President Aragonès remains in Palau. The recent change of ministers was a tactical move to exhaust the legislature until 2025.

In recent hours, Esquerra has entered the Barcelona Provincial Council, reaching its historical maximum power. The party wants to consolidate its territorial power amid the crisis and the possibility of soon losing the Generalitat. Undoubtedly, bad omens for Oriol Junqueras's and Pere Aragonès's party.