Catalonia Today, May 11, 2006 | New fire in tripartite

On the eve of the referendum over Catalonia's new Estatut, which will be held on June 18–providing it is passed in the Senate, there is a certain political confusion. People no longer know what to vote in June –whether for the Estatut or against a so-called left-wing pro-Catalan tripartite government which is completely in ruins. Maragall fuelled the flames this week, when he was in Parliament explaining the reshuffle he was forced to effect a few days ago. This president is absurd, and the image he presents is bordering on the surreal, to say the least. In trying to clear up the situation, Maragall announced early elections, 18 months earlier than expected. Four days ago the left-wing parties were claiming that the government would see out its term of office; now neither PSC nor ERC seem to want to doso. The opposition CiU party, which is the party that holds the most seats, has washed its hands of the matter. They will have a chance to return to power earlier than expected. The CiU is a clearfavourite in all the polls, over PSC, which holds the presidency. Meanwhile, analysts predict a second version of the tripartite. That’s if all the mathematics work out correctly, of course.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 11 de maig de 2006, pàgina 3.)