Catalonia Today, June 1, 2006 | Pressure from Catalan business

Te two-and-a-half years of existence of the pro-Catalan, left-wing tripartite government, after 23 years of moderate Pujolisme, have shaken the country's institutions. The tripartite’s traumatic end, with the expulsion of ERC from the government (in a decision by President Pasqual Maragall that was widely criticised) has opened the eyes of the most hostile sectors to the left’s arrival in the Generalitat. The president of the Cercle d’Economia and of Grupo Planeta, José Manuel Lara Bosch, did not mince his words when he attacked a possible repeat of the agreement between PSC, ERC and ICV. However, Lara went even further and slammed Maragall for his lack of leadership. Lara said what an influential sector of economic power in Catalonia thinks, but it is also true that there are other types of businessmen who don't feel represented by bosses of thelarge companies. In any case, it is undeniable that Maragall's loss of political authority will open a Pandora's box that would enable Rodríguez Zapatero to facilitate CiU's return to power, even if it were to clean up his image and prepare for his re-election.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 1 de juny de 2006, pàgina 3.)