Catalonia Today, November 9, 2006 | Schism between supporters of sovereignty

The ERC's wager to pact with the socialists and the green party, thrusting José Montilla into the presidency of the Generalitat, widens a schism between supporters of Catalan sovereignty. Even members of CiU who strongly supported an accord with ERC will have a hard time getting over this one. Now there is a wider gap than ever between partisans of sovereignty and it seems that only time will help heal the damage though a mid-term reconciliation seems unlikely. The strategy of supporters of independence manages to marginalise Artur Mas, putting him in the opposition despite his election victory. The Catalan Parliament could have had a nationalist majority (ERC and CiU have 69 representatives) but Carod-Rovira and Joan Puigcercós preferred to favour a moderately leftist progressive pact. The new government, called the Alliance fornational progress, claims their decision will help move beyond a crisis-riddled legislature. They won't have it easy but the situation for CiU, in the opposition with 48 seats, isn't enviable either. The coming weeks will be tough.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 9 de novembre de 2006, pàgina 3.)