The secretary general of Junts per Catalunya, Jordi Turull, has ruled out negotiating the Catalonian budget with the Partit Socialista de Catalunya for the year twenty twenty-six. In an interview, Turull argued that the commitments made with Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and Comuns during Salvador Illa’s investiture are incompatible with the vision of Junts for a thriving middle class in Catalonia.

Turull further accused Illa of representing the ‘de-nationalisation’ of Catalan institutions and has made it clear that his party cannot support policies that diverge from their core values. While the current budget has been extended, he emphasised the importance of pursuing policies conducive to a less burdensome fiscal environment for middle-class citizens.

In his remarks, Turull highlighted a lack of an ambitious mindset from Illa regarding negotiations, suggesting that the current approach only seeks minimal concessions, which does not align with Junts’ aspirations. He pointed to the example of former socialist president José Montilla, who confronted the Spanish State effectively, contrasting it with Illa’s need for approval from the central government.

Furthermore, Turull cautioned that if Esquerra Republicana continues to support Illa, who he views as anti-independence, the chances of reaching significant agreements will remain slim. However, he left the door open for future cooperation should Esquerra alter their stance on the issue.