Ruth Merino, spokesperson for the Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana, weighed in on Junts per Catalunya’s demand that the Government sanction companies that refuse to relocate to Catalonia. She described the proposal as an attack on corporate freedom, labeling it an event and a selfish measure that upended the equality of Spaniards.
Speaking at a press conference following the council’s plenary session, Merino argued that a party like Junts threatens not only the Spanish Government but also the equality of citizens across the country. She criticized the idea as an act of oppression against business freedom, noting that companies should have the liberty to decide where they want to settle. The official stressed that the proposal appears unnecessary and should be set aside.
When asked whether the Consell would take measures to prevent the movement of merchandise, which has increasingly favored the Valencian Community since October 1, 2017, Merino clarified that the Valencian government would pursue more than financial incentives. She said the authorities are establishing streamlined bureaucratic procedures to encourage companies to remain in the region. Beyond that, she added, there is no concrete plan because she does not believe the proposal will advance.
It is worth recalling that the agreement between the PSOE and Junts to appoint Pedro Sánchez as head of government also included provisions to facilitate and encourage the return of company headquarters to Catalonia, with Valencia and other regions like the Valencian Community cited as potential destinations after October 1, 2017. CaixaBank and Sabadell Bank are noted as two examples that relocated their headquarters to Valencia and Alicante, respectively.
Reconciliation: Punitiveness is Not the Solution
The Valencian regional government was not alone in its response. From Madrid came Águeda Micó, Sumar’s deputy speaker in Congress and a leader of Compromís, who rejected Junts’s proposal to impose sanctions on companies relocating due to tensions linked to Catalonia’s independence process. Micó stated that punishment is not the solution during a press conference in the Lower House.
On Tuesday, Junts spokesperson Josep Rius reiterated that the Catalan party believes firms moving their headquarters away from Catalonia during the procés could be sanctioned if they do not return. The proposal was introduced just before the government planned to submit three decree laws to Congress in an extraordinary session to address justice matters, unemployment benefits reform, and crisis relief aid.
Nevertheless, Micó argued that penalties should not be applied simply because a company chooses a different location to pursue its economic activities. He suggested that if the departure was connected to a political conflict, the case for sanctions would be even weaker. He proposed instead that the underlying reasons for relocation be brought to light so that the political tensions driving corporate choices can be understood and addressed more openly.