Appearances by politicians from the Catalan party Junts on national television are rare and always draw attention. This time, the guest on the morning show “Espejo público” was parliamentary group spokesperson Míriam Nogueras. Her visit was prompted by the need to respond to a barrage of criticism the party received after some harsh remarks from its secretary general, Jordi Turull.
A week earlier, Turull sparked controversy by claiming that tax breaks for residents of Andalucía—such as deductions for gym memberships or veterinary services for pets—are essentially paid for “with Catalan money.” This statement instantly reignited the long-standing debate over Spain’s system of interregional financing. Prominent Andalusian politicians, including regional leader Juanma Moreno, quickly accused Junts of playing the ‘superiority card’ for electoral gain and of reviving tired stereotypes.
In the studio, Míriam Nogueras attempted to push back against these attacks. She argued that the ‘supremacist’ label is only applied to them because their opponents have no substantial counterarguments. According to her, the reality is clear: some autonomous communities contribute far more to the national treasury than they receive in return, while others are net beneficiaries. The spokesperson expressed frustration that any attempt to defend the economic interests of Catalonia and its citizens is immediately portrayed as hostility toward Spain.
However, the show’s host, Susanna Griso, did not let her guest get away with general statements. She directly asked what specific data supported the claims that Catalans pay for assistance, for instance, to children with celiac disease in Andalusia. This question clearly made Nogueras nervous. She called for “greater accuracy” in wording and asked not to attribute to her party things they had not said. The speaker tried to adjust her position: the issue is that donor regions cannot afford the same social policies as recipient regions. “Don’t we have the right to demand what is rightfully ours?” she asked indignantly.
The dialogue quickly turned into a monologue, and Susanna Griso was forced to interrupt her guest in order to continue the interview. In response, Nogueras leveled a serious accusation at the TV channel, claiming that they are rarely given the floor, with the channel preferring to discuss Junts without the party’s presence. The host countered this assertion, firmly denying any bias. She stated that only in the past few weeks, Junts representatives had been invited onto the broadcast seven times. Wrapping up the tense exchange, Griso again emphasized that Ms. Nogueras is always welcome in the studio to challenge any information, and the politician accepted the invitation.
