Pressure on the Catalan government is mounting: amid the lack of a new budget and growing criticism from parliamentary allies, Salvador Illa held an off-site cabinet meeting at Món Sant Benet. The head of government urged ministers to accelerate the work of institutions as much as possible and focus on transforming the region, as well as restoring Catalonia’s standing in Europe. According to sources in the administration, this was the fourth such session during the current term.
This time, the discussion coincided with an intense debate over the initiative to introduce plainclothes mossos d’esquadra officers in schools to prevent teenage violence. Key parliamentary partners — ERC and the Comuns — opposed the measure, demanding public explanations from the interior and education ministers. The conflict in the education sector remains unresolved, and teachers are expected to announce new protest actions in the coming week.
Budget in question
The budget issue remains unresolved: Catalonia continues to operate under the 2023 financial plan. In the spring, the government was forced to withdraw its draft budget due to a lack of support from the Republicans, who insisted on expanding tax powers and changes to IRPF collection. Afterwards, the parties agreed on a temporary truce and set a deadline for the end of the parliamentary session to find a compromise. It remains unclear what conditions ERC will put forward, and whether the creation of an investment consortium will become another point of contention.
Internal reforms and plans
All ministers attended the meeting at Món Sant Benet except for Health Minister Olga Pané, who is on medical leave. The main goal is to accelerate the reform of the public administration and improve the work of public services. After two days of discussions, Salvador Illa is expected to make an official statement. In the evening, Josep Pla Award winner Francesc Torralba will join the participants to discuss the region’s prospects with government members.
Context and background
Strategic government sessions like this have been held in Catalonia since the beginning of the current mandate. The first meeting took place at Poblet Monastery, followed by two sessions in 2025—one in April in Nuria, and another in September in Arnes. Now, at the halfway mark of the term, the government faces not only the need to negotiate the budget, but also to respond to internal challenges and criticism in key areas.
