Jordi Turull: “I would do October 1 again, and I would do it better” | Elections in Catalonia 12-M

The general secretary of Junts per Catalunya, Jordi Turull, faces the elections from the bench, because until the amnesty law comes into force he remains disqualified for his participation in the illegal 1-O referendum. Turull (Parets del Vallès, 57 years old) is recovering from a heart attack, but the pace of his activity has barely slowed down. As soon as Pere Aragonès announced the call for elections for May 12, Turull was the first to invoke the figure of Carles Puigdemont as a candidate for the Generalitat. And in targeting his electoral enemy: Salvador Illa (PSC).

Ask. Hasn’t Pere Aragonès’ electoral advance surprised you?

Answer. We knew that ERC would not move in terms of country interest, but party interest. By promoting Sergi Sabrià [viceconsejero de Estrategia] to carry the Government’s communication, we already saw that it was not about public policies. The low, zero interest of ERC and the president to negotiate. Everything they have touched has melted in their hands. When the country needs a Government that is closer than ever, it does not face the problems.

P. He says that the country needs a Government that is on its side. And Junts’ first reaction is to propose Puigdemont, a candidate who is not in the country.

R. He is not physically there because we are in a situation that is not democratic normality, but he has the country perfectly understood.

P. Junts has no other option than Puigdemont.

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R. The country has to decide between turning the page offered by Salvador Illa, the hybrid of those who do not know where they are (ERC), or our proposal: a new push. With the amnesty law we can now sit as equals and we have to go for national recognition, which means the exercise of self-determination.

P. Does appealing to the figure of Puigdemont serve to silence a sector of the independence movement that accuses Junts of making an agreement with the State?

R. To resolve the conflict we present two vectors: amnesty and self-determination. Now we have to go with all our strength for the second one. It’s up to the country to say if it wants to go for it, or simply prefers Salvador Illa, who is a delegate of the Government of Spain in Catalonia and little else.

P. What deadlines does Puigdemont play with? In the end, does it depend on the judges’ decisions?

R. If you decide, it will be with all the consequences. The calendar is out: President Puigdemont can run for office, something that I, for example, cannot do. There will be a period of taking possession of the deputy’s record, which does not need to come. And you go to the investiture debate when you reach an agreement, if you do not have an absolute majority. The law already states that precautionary measures must be lifted immediately. If a judge wants to voluntarily delay the deadline, he will be prevaricating. What we will not do is have the judges determine who can do politics in Catalonia and when they can do it.

P. Are you talking about delaying the investiture debate then?

R. No, that’s already very sophisticated.

P. They have insisted on the ability of judges to bend the law, but, on the other hand, they assure that Puigdemont will be able to be here on a fixed date, such as the investiture debate.

R. Because as the articles of the amnesty law are written, there are no loopholes for the Supreme Court to act as legislator.

P. It is hard to believe that he is going to give up the status that being an MEP offers him.

R. He president He has shown that his priority is not himself, but the country.

P. It is true that we go through screens very quickly. In the last Catalan elections, in fact, he came third.

R. There are those who make fun of that and I say that if your opponent makes a mistake, don’t distract him. In the last elections he served as a reference and as support. The candidacy was from Laura Borràs. It has nothing to do with what is now. With the amnesty law, the horizon of president It is not exile, but the return. No matter how much you want to resist, there is no turning back.

P. Is the amnesty law a gift to guarantee Pedro Sánchez’s legislature or can Junts overthrow this legislature?

R. The amnesty goes for the investiture; and the legislature goes according to progress. This is what is signed.

P. Is there a legislature for a while?

R. It depends on whether the measures adopted by the State are consistent with what was agreed. If there is no State decision that makes us retreat in terms of powers and financing, our commitment is stability. The PSOE has already learned, that you don’t vote yes just because, it matters a lot. We will comply with the agreement, if Pedro Sánchez complies, there will be a legislature.

P. Junts defends having extracted concessions from Pedro Sánchez, but, at the same time, maintains that it does not matter to it having dealings with a PSOE Government or with one of the PP.

R. We would not ask less of the PP than we ask of the PSOE. And hearing threats that if the right or the extreme right comes is not going to make us change our voting direction. We have presented ourselves to resolve the conflict between Catalonia and the State, we are not here to save Spain from anything. Spain can save itself, if it wants.

P. Is it time to reveal the “everything will be known” that Puigdemont stated, regarding contacts between Junts and the PP?

R. He has to explain that.

P. Will you explain the meetings that Junts has had with the PP?

R. As far as I know, there have been no official contacts. But Junts agreed in an executive that if the PP wants formal contacts with Junts, we are going to go.

P. Junts’ strategy opens the door to sit down and negotiate with anyone. Does this dynamic make it possible for there to be a rapprochement between Junts and the PSC?

R. Our bet is an independence government. Salvador Illa will not, in any case, be president with the votes of Junts.

P. You were sentenced to 12 years in prison for organizing 1-O. I would do it again?

R. I would do October 1st again, and I would do it better.

P. Does not raising these kinds of challenges make it difficult to complete reconciliation after the 2017 outbreak?

R. For us, fighting for the independence of Catalonia is the most noble cause. We have tried it in many ways and all the doors have been closed to us. We are not going to renounce unilaterality, this has to be understood. We want to solve it peacefully and democratically. We have earned the right to vote. Resignations cannot always come from the same side. And it is difficult for me to think that there is another place where this kind of toga rebellion that occurs in the Spanish State is allowed.

P. Nor are there many precedents for unilateral declarations of independence [DUI].

R. We assume our responsibility, but they go all out against anyone.

P. Do you recognize Pedro Sánchez’s good predisposition?

R. Pedro Sánchez has some messengers who deceive him regarding what is happening in Catalonia. We can recognize Sánchez for having taken a step, but he has to consider whether he wants to take that step with all the consequences or not. The agreement with the PSOE was disruptive and very honest. Junts did not ask the PSOE to renounce its convictions nor did the PSOE demand that we abandon October 1 or the DUI. We don’t trust each other and the differences are abysmal, but we made the decision to try it.

P. Will Laura Borràs continue as president of Junts despite being convicted?

R. Until there is a congress, and we are not planning to organize one, there will be no changes in the party. Furthermore, the sentence is not final.

P. If the Junts candidate is not Puigdemont, will it be Míriam Nogueras?

R. Míriam Nogueras does extraordinary work in Madrid and we do not intend to move her. We are focused on making it president Puigdemont.

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