Pro-independence forces reach an agreement and Artur Mas won’t be president
CNA / Sara Prim
Barcelona (CNA).- Cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and radical
left CUP have finally reached an agreement to resolve the presidency of
the new Catalan government and launch the independence roadmap. Current
Catalan President and ‘Junts Pel Sí’'s number four, Artur Mas has
decided to step aside and president of the Association of Municipalities
for Independence (AMI) and mayor of Girona city, Carles Pugidemont, has
been appointed as the candidate of consensus. In exchange, some of
CUP’s MPs will resign in order to guarantee the stability of the new
government. The investiture debate will take place on Sunday and a new
President would have to be elected before midnight.
“This was not a predictable decision”
stated Mas during his press conference before the media “it is the
consequence of last minute changes, mainly promoted by individuals and
associations which have a huge influence in our country” he added,
referring to the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) the grassroots
association responsible for the massive pro-independence rallies in
Catalonia, which has lately urged the pro-independence parties to reach
an agreement. “We were stuck. We didn’t have perspective and our project
was about to fail” admitted Mas “now the [pro-independence] process is
saved and the stability of the Catalan government guaranteed”.
stated Mas during his press conference before the media “it is the
consequence of last minute changes, mainly promoted by individuals and
associations which have a huge influence in our country” he added,
referring to the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) the grassroots
association responsible for the massive pro-independence rallies in
Catalonia, which has lately urged the pro-independence parties to reach
an agreement. “We were stuck. We didn’t have perspective and our project
was about to fail” admitted Mas “now the [pro-independence] process is
saved and the stability of the Catalan government guaranteed”.
Carles Puigdemont, the new candidate for Catalan President
‘Junts Pel Sí’s member and president of
the Association of Municipalities for Independence (AMI), Carles
Puigdemont is Mas' candidate to be instated as Catalan President. Mas
wanted to emphasise that Puigdemont was his personal proposal and
explained that he knew the project perfectly well. The investiture
debate will take place on Sunday and a new President would have to be
elected before midnight "by majority and without further delay", stated
Mas. “It is not only about proposing a candidate from ‘Junts Pel Sí’”
nuanced Mas “it is about guaranteeing the stability of the upcoming
Catalan government”.
the Association of Municipalities for Independence (AMI), Carles
Puigdemont is Mas' candidate to be instated as Catalan President. Mas
wanted to emphasise that Puigdemont was his personal proposal and
explained that he knew the project perfectly well. The investiture
debate will take place on Sunday and a new President would have to be
elected before midnight "by majority and without further delay", stated
Mas. “It is not only about proposing a candidate from ‘Junts Pel Sí’”
nuanced Mas “it is about guaranteeing the stability of the upcoming
Catalan government”.
Mas: “CUP will have to admit its mistakes”
“CUP will have to admit its mistakes”
stated Mas “and to prove it there would have to be some changes within
the party and some renewal will have to be made amongst its members”.
Indeed, two CUP MPs will join ‘Junts Pel Sí’
parliamentary activity so that “the government’s proposals won’t be
banned every now and then” he stated, referring to possible future
vetoes from CUP. According to Mas, the 27-S Catalan Elections' results
would have led to political instability. “CUP had the upper hand and now
it is ‘Junts Pel Sí’ who controls the parliamentarian activity with
CUP’s explicit commitment to guarantee its stability”, he stated.
stated Mas “and to prove it there would have to be some changes within
the party and some renewal will have to be made amongst its members”.
Indeed, two CUP MPs will join ‘Junts Pel Sí’
parliamentary activity so that “the government’s proposals won’t be
banned every now and then” he stated, referring to possible future
vetoes from CUP. According to Mas, the 27-S Catalan Elections' results
would have led to political instability. “CUP had the upper hand and now
it is ‘Junts Pel Sí’ who controls the parliamentarian activity with
CUP’s explicit commitment to guarantee its stability”, he stated.
Mas won’t leave politics
Mas admitted that calling for new elections “would have
been the worst scenario” and it “may have killed the entire process”.
Therefore, he admitted being “very calm” and convinced that he made the
right choice. “It hasn’t been an easy decision” he stated “but I think
that I’m doing the right thing”.
been the worst scenario” and it “may have killed the entire process”.
Therefore, he admitted being “very calm” and convinced that he made the
right choice. “It hasn’t been an easy decision” he stated “but I think
that I’m doing the right thing”.
The current Catalan President nuanced
that he won’t leave the political sphere. “I resign as ‘Junts Pel Sí’s
candidate but I’ll be at the Catalan Parliament and government’s
disposal” he emphasised. Mas announced that he will now focus on
“relaunching” governing party liberal CDC and left the door open to the
possibility of running for Catalan President in the future.
that he won’t leave the political sphere. “I resign as ‘Junts Pel Sí’s
candidate but I’ll be at the Catalan Parliament and government’s
disposal” he emphasised. Mas announced that he will now focus on
“relaunching” governing party liberal CDC and left the door open to the
possibility of running for Catalan President in the future.
More on
'Junts Pel Sí', Agreement, AMI, Artur Mas, Association of Municipalities for Independence, Carles Puigdemont, Catalan Government, Catalan President, CUP, New Government, Pro-independence forces
Image of current Catalan President, Artur Mas and the upcoming Catalan President and, Carles Pugidemont (by ACN)
