Consell drafted an action plan intended to steer Junts’ strategy toward bringing back companies that left Catalonia during the independence period. The plan was embedded in the accords with the Pedro Sánchez government to begin implementing the first of the decrees, according to coalition leadership sources. Carlos Mazón’s team countered with a parallel set of consolidation measures aimed at safeguarding companies within the Valencian Community, as reported by presidential sources. While an emergency decree was initially contemplated, its exact wording remains under consideration. The sources note that everything is still in motion.
At present, the Generalitat Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the agreement tied to the return of these firms, with the goal of determining whether any aspect could be appealed to the Constitutional Court. This is one of the initiatives highlighted by the Consell chairman after learning of Junts’ demands for their backing of the government.
Despite expectations, it appears unlikely that the final content of the agreement would trigger constitutional challenges, since it does not impose penalties on companies for relocating away from Catalonia. That issue—central to the talks among Junts and the Socialist party—has already influenced a change in the Companies Law, intended to facilitate the reintegration of the targeted group of firms that departed during the 2017 process.
About a thousand companies
Approximately one thousand firms are involved. This includes major financial institutions such as Caixabank and Banc Sabadell, which shifted their official bases to Valencia and Alicante respectively, after absorbing Banco de Valencia and CAM. The 2017 amendment to the Companies Law is seen by Junts as a move that made it easier for large companies to abandon Catalonia. The reform relaxes relocation approvals to the board of directors, even though the company charter states that such decisions should be made by the general meeting of shareholders.
During the Heimtextil2024 textile fair, the Generalitat president urged Frankfurt to convene the Conference of Regional Presidents promptly in response to what he called Junts’ usurpations against the government led by Pedro Sánchez. The call followed similar appeals from other PP regional leaders, including Alfonso Fernández Mañueco (Castilla y León), María José Sáenz de Buruaga (Cantabria), Marga Prohens (Balearic Islands), Fernando López Miras (Murcia), and others.
The Consell head argued during a recent plenary session that the executive’s two social decrees were being leveraged too heavily in exchange for concessions to the independents, calling that approach an absurdity that cannot be tolerated. He warned that the road ahead could be arduous and urged the immediate convening of the regional leaders’ forum. Mazón pressed Sánchez to appear publicly without delay, remarking that what happened yesterday was serious and not finished. He contended that decisions from Madrid have a lasting impact and suggested that a pivotal shift began with what occurred at Waterloo, where Puigdemont is said to dictate subsequent actions. Mazón expressed regret over Junts’ choices, noting how Valencian firms faced backlash for their move, and argued that power over the State and the separation of powers have been breached, a situation he warned has merely started to unfold.
Additionally, Miguel Barrachina, the PP’s ombudsman in the Cortes, accused the Valencian socialists of betraying regional interests by quietly signaling that firms that willingly relocated to Valencia could be compelled to return to Catalonia.
Sánchez’s vulnerability
Barrachina criticized what he described as the President of the Government Pedro Sánchez being restrained by Junts, saying his agenda is effectively shaped by coalition partners. He argued that governing a country and crafting policies benefiting all citizens becomes difficult when a small circle of interests—like Junts—dominates the discourse. He asserted that Valencian socialists should prioritize Valencian interests, indicating that having a local minister without the clout to defend Valencians would be counterproductive.
He concluded that Valencian socialists must remain faithful to their regional identity, not merely the national party line, implying that genuine regional advocacy matters more than party labels in such matters. The discussion underscored a broader dispute about how to balance regional autonomy with national governance in a way that protects local economic interests and maintains political stability. This sentiment reflected ongoing tensions between regional leadership and the central government, with stakes tied to where companies locate and how public policy shapes those decisions.