The president of Junts in the Parliament of Catalonia, Mònica Sales, has criticized this Thursday that the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, was not present in the Catalan Chamber during the return of the former councilor and deputy of Junts Lluís Puig, who has returned to the hemicycle 9 years after 1-O, an attitude that she has equated to that of Vox.
In a letter sent to the head of the Catalan Executive, Sales argues that "Today we were not asking you to share the ideas of councilor Puig, we were asking you to act as president of all Catalans. And, unfortunately, with your absence, you have shown that you are only willing to represent a part of the country."
As a result of this absence, the leader of Junts reproaches him for "not being up to the level" of the institutional responsibility that his position entails, despite the fact that, according to sources from the Govern indicated this same Thursday, Illa and Puig held a discreet and private meeting after the return of the former councilor to Catalonia.
Sales emphasizes in the letter that "A meeting in the strictly private sphere does not replace the institutional gesture that you should have exercised today," and argues that Puig's return required the presence and recognition of the president of the Generalitat, above any political disagreements that may exist.
From her point of view, there was no reason to justify the president's absence "from a moment of this solemnity and ended up coinciding with the boycott that the parliamentary group of Vox has made."
The president of the Junts group also reminds that Illa supported at the time the application of article 155 of the Constitution and the dismissal of the Govern presided over by Carles Puigdemont, and holds him responsible for having contributed to the situation that has forced Puig to remain 9 years outside of Catalonia. "Maybe, with this political past, it was uncomfortable for him to be present in the hemicycle, but the responsibility that comes with the Presidency of the Generalitat requires knowing how to place your institutional duty above any other consideration," she states.
Rejected meeting and Illa's agenda
Parliamentary sources from Junts have detailed that Illa proposed to Puig to meet in the Parliament before the deputies accessed the hemicycle, but the environment of Carles Puigdemont declined the offer upon learning that the president would not be in the plenary when the deputy of Junts made his entrance.
According to sources from the Govern explained to Europa Press, although several motions are debated during the afternoon of this Thursday that will be voted on around 18:00 hours, Illa has left the Parlament because he was scheduled to attend an event at 19:30 hours in Manlleu (Barcelona).