Pere Aragonès and the Single Financing
The president of the Generalitat and ERC candidate in the Catalan elections of May 12, Pere Aragonès, has reiterated his defense of singular funding, distancing himself from the socialist candidate, Salvador Illa. Aragonès has highlighted the importance of an economic model similar to that of the Basque Country, where Catalonia would collect all the taxes and transfer a part to pay for the services the State provides to the country and another part to an interterritorial solidarity fund. In an event organized by the Taula del Tercer Sector, Aragonès has warned that if Illa becomes the new president of the Generalitat, Catalonia and the welfare state will be resented by the lack of a funding model of its own.
The Relationship with the Spanish State
Aragonès has defended that his proposal would change the relationship with the Spanish State to be “one-to-one”, benefiting Catalan citizens in the long term. He has argued that they do not agree with a uniform model for all communities, as this would leave Catalonia with the worst part. According to the ERC candidate, the best way to achieve Catalan goals is to have total control of the resources that are generated.
Criticism of Salvador Illa and Carles Puigdemont
Aragonès has criticized Salvador Illa’s statements on singular financing, stating that these are negative for Catalonia. He also addressed Carles Puigdemont, assuring that you cannot give confidence to those whose goal is “themselves” and stressed that they have been responsible for the “most severe” cuts in recent years.