This decision comes after the two socialist representatives in the capital of Ripollès abstained from the budget vote, facilitating its approval by Mayor Sílvia Orriols, leader of Aliança Catalana. The PSC justified the measure by stating that “the red line of not making agreements with the far-right must be respected throughout Catalonia”.
The party announced the resignation of Enric Pérez and Anna-Belén Avilés, the councilors involved, after a meeting held on Monday. Party spokesperson Lluïsa Moret emphasized that the councilors are stepping down out of “responsibility” and reiterated the party's commitment not to collaborate with far-right forces that do not uphold “democratic values”.
The red line of not making agreements with the far-right must be respected throughout Catalonia.
However, Pérez and Avilés expressed their disagreement with the national executive's decision, calling it “unilateral”. They denied that any prior meeting had taken place and warned that no other member of the electoral list has shown interest in taking over their positions. Furthermore, Enric Pérez also resigned as an advisor to the Territori department, a position he held under the direction of Sílvia Paneque, who accepted his resignation and praised his work.
The PSC's decision to force the resignations has received support from ERC and the Comuns. Ester Capella, republican spokesperson in the Parliament, deemed it “unjustifiable” that Aliança Catalana could approve its budget. Conversely, Salvador Vergés of Junts urged the PSC to “resolve its problems” before “giving lessons”. Mayor Orriols, for her part, described the socialists as “authoritarian”.
