Catalonia Today, September 21, 2006 | Esquerra’s great dilemma

The polls for the elections on November 1 place CiU as the clear favourite. Though it is six weeks away, and the PSC could close the gap, the nationalist federation, which has spent three years in opposition, seems likely to win. The ERC has the great dilemma of the day after the elections, as they will have to choose between a national pact with CiU, or a repeat of the tripartite without Pasqual Maragall, with José Montilla at the head. Making Montilla President will not satisfy wide sectors of voters and republican militants. However, raising Artur Mas to the presidency will not please republican grassroots, either. The choice of one or another will lead to a certain internal trauma. Unless Carod Rovira announces, in the coming days, that ERC will respect whoever wins most votes, as long as the victory is clear and emphatic. However, one after possibility is sociovergència  –a pact between CiU and PSC organised by Spain's prime minister Zapatero. This would relegate ERC to the opposition, producing tranquility throughout Spain. But it will be political suicide for PSC, as Mas has refused to be Montilla's first minister.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 21 de setembre de 2006, pàgina 3.)