The PP doesn't make friends

Will Junts break with the PSOE? This was the question the government was asking itself yesterday after the decision on the official status of Catalan in the EU General Affairs Council was postponed. It seemed that a consensus among the 27 to push forward with the Spanish initiative was possible, but ultimately, before the options were vetoed, it was decided to pass the buck and wait for another opportunity.

There was concern about the reaction of the post-Convergent parties, as well as about the government being held responsible for the new delay. This was not the case. Junts avoided criticism of the executive, and the latter responded with one of its signature slogans of the term: "We have worked hard and tried in every possible way." The aim now is to restore the official status of the languages ​​to the next European meeting, the last under the Polish presidency, which will be held at the end of June.

It will be difficult for Junts to forget the PP's "conspiracies" against Catalan.

The reality is that Junts doesn't question the involvement of Pedro Sánchez's government; another matter is the "conspiracies"—as former President Carles Puigdemont defined them—that the Popular Party has deployed in all the foreign ministries to prevent Catalan, Galician, and Basque from becoming fully fledged languages ​​in the European Union. This intense diplomatic campaign, in which it has also involved Vox, has been partially successful, as it has not resulted in any veto but has managed to delay the vote, despite the intensive Spanish efforts in which President Sánchez has been involved.

The PP has attempted to disrupt the government's stability and dynamite the bridges the PSOE has opened with Junts. These bridges are already weak, and the post-Convergent parties are finding it increasingly difficult to demonstrate to their electorate the usefulness of the pact with Sánchez when the amnesty has yet to be fully implemented and immigration transfers still have to go through Congress.

It's true that the government dragged its feet on the process of making Catalan official, and that it's the result of the agreement that made Francina Armengol president of the Congressional Bureau. But it's equally true that Alberto Núñez Feijóo has taken advantage of the European debate on the language to emphasize the fragility of the pact between the PSOE and Junts and attempt to thwart any possibility of understanding between the two parties. He's putting obstacles in the way of giving Sánchez no respite in Spain and questioning his influence in Europe.

The PP's opposition to the three co-official languages ​​being spoken in Europe is legitimate, but it will be difficult for Junts to forget these "conspiracies." Relations with the PP, while not fluid, had improved due to common ground on the economic model and ideological differences in the votes in Congress. There was a point of common ground, but for the post-Convergents, all lines have been crossed by opposing an issue enshrined in the Catalan Statute and vetted by the Constitutional Court.

A few months ago, the PNV also broke off relations with Feijóo for opposing the return of the Jeltzale headquarters in exile in Paris. Now, the PP leader has further complicated matters and has closed the door on Junts. He remains to Vox and reaffirm his leadership before his party at its congress next July, days after the future of Catalan, Basque, and also Galician in Europe will likely be discussed again.