Aragon Government clashes with COE leadership over Catalonia proposals
The Aragonese Government has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Spanish Olympic Committee, particularly the COE president, Alejandro Blanco. Officials described the situation in the days that followed a critical press conference held after the Governing Council meeting, where the Presidency Minister Mayte Pérez urged Blanco to step back after a series of contradictions that were framed as obstacles to agreement. She noted a recent remark by Blanco about a supposed vacancy in the process, warning that the discussion could veer into a territorial dispute between Aragon and Catalonia depending on the proposals under consideration.
Blanco was criticized for acting in ways that were characterized as judgmental and political. He was accused of behaving more like a political agent from Catalonia than a neutral facilitator, prompting calls for him to recuse himself and allow the process to proceed without perceived biases. Critics insisted that the proposal Blanco supported appeared to originate with Catalonia, and that his role could be compromising by signaling a bias that harmed Aragon’s interests. In response, some officials warned that a suitable workaround was necessary to avoid turning the process into a political misstep that would damage trust on all sides.
There is expectation that the European Commission might be asked to review the party proposal in a forthcoming cycle, with officials indicating they would present it to the public in due course. They stressed that institutions hold supremacy over any single individual, a refrain repeated amid discussions about the proper channels for any future announcement.
One consultant labeled Blanco’s performance a grotesque soap opera, noting a persistent pattern: a shift in stance that seemed to privilege Catalonia while Aragon remained focused on its own community. Critics argued that Aragon had remained faithful and honest from the outset, while alleging that the COE president had not, and that the ongoing contradictions appeared to aim at assigning guilt to Aragon rather than seeking a workable compromise.
Chronology of disputes between Aragon and the COE was recounted by Pérez, who argued that Blanco had not played fair or listened to Aragon’s voices. Critics described the process as unequal and said it complicated the negotiations. They pointed to a division between technical work in Aragon and political maneuvering in Catalonia, asserting that Aragón’s technical teams were better positioned to analyze the proposals and that a deal with no basis in reality had been urged to acceptance.
The tensions have endured over time, with discussions about borders and whether negotiations should be joint or separate. A vote on rival proposals—Aragon’s or Catalonia’s—was framed as a sign of fragile trust and a lack of clear technical documentation from Aragón. This situation led to a perception that the process was unfocused, with debates swinging between a leap into the void and a cautious, well-structured approach to a stable agreement.
Regarding Blanco’s ultimate decision on whether to pursue a vote between the two proposals, critics described the move as an unnecessary leap and a risky comparison to a bobsled run. In Aragón, confidence in Blanco’s ability to remove barriers was eroding, and calls for stepping back grew louder as a potential shift could enable new, more productive talks.
Aragón’s position was portrayed as steadfast: the quality of municipal stations and the fairness of the offers under consideration remained the priority, with invitations extended to participate on equitable terms. When asked about progress from the COE and the International Olympic Committee meeting held in Madrid, officials suggested that the meeting reflected ongoing concerns but also contained opportunities for a path forward, provided loyal communities are engaged and a viable fix emerges.
In summary, the Aragonese administration emphasizes principled defense of its regional interests while seeking a path that preserves institutional integrity. The core tension lies in balancing Catalonia’s influence with Aragon’s needs and ensuring that negotiations are grounded in technical merit, not political calculation. As discussions continue, Aragon seeks a resolution that strengthens trust, maintains fair treatment, and preserves the autonomy of its community within the broader framework of national coordination.