The uncertainty about the return of Carles Puigdemont
Junts avoids providing details about the possible return of President Carles Puigdemont if the August 25 deadline expires without a full investiture. During an appearance after the meeting between Albert Batet, Mònica Sales and Josep Rull (president of the Parliament), the leader of the Junts parliamentary group reaffirmed the commitment of the president in exile to return when an investiture plenary session is held. However, when asked about the terms of return in the event that no candidate is willing to appear in a plenary session until he has a sufficient majority, Albert Batet expressed that this question should be directed to Puigdemont, emphasizing that his commitment is to return if there is a full investiture, a commitment that has been made publicly.
Junts’ commitment to the investiture
The president of the Junts parliamentary group highlighted that Puigdemont’s commitment to return is the first he has made since the elections were called, and it is a commitment that they continue to maintain. Despite the uncertainty, the political party considers it feasible that the Girona politician’s investiture will take place, since they are working to achieve a majority that, according to them, is higher than that of other parties.
Puigdemont’s disposition and the ongoing negotiations
During the meeting with Rull, Batet and Sales conveyed Carles Puigdemont’s willingness to submit to an investiture debate, although not at the current time. According to them, they are seeking support and negotiating to obtain a majority, and once they achieve it, they will inform President Rull and request the convening of a plenary session in Parliament. Although they admit that Puigdemont’s options require time, they consider that the constitution of the Parliament’s Board last week shows that this majority has plausible possibilities.
Discretion and effectiveness in negotiations
Regarding the development of the negotiations, Albert Batet did not reveal details, but assured that they will follow the Junts style, characterized by discretion, humility and effectiveness. Furthermore, he mentioned that they will act in the same way as in other cases, such as the Brussels Agreement with the PSOE or the negotiations with ERC and the CUP for the Parliament Table. Regarding the conversations with the Republicans, Batet acknowledged that Marta Rovira’s representatives made it clear that the Table did not imply anything in terms of investiture.