Catalonia’s government will leave Vox and Aliança Catalana out of upcoming education reform talks, arguing that these parties disrupt consensus and offer no solutions. The decision draws a clear line in the region’s political debate.
The Catalan government has decided not to invite Vox and Aliança Catalana to upcoming education reform talks. Presidency councillor Albert Dalmau confirmed the decision, saying the administration wants to exclude parties it considers disruptive and uninterested in improving the system.
President Salvador Illa had promised a broad debate on education, with the aim of bringing together stakeholders and reaching agreement on raising public education investment to 6%. The plan was announced in advance: Illa said the first step would be meetings with parliamentary parties, followed by talks with the regional education council. As Dalmau explained on TV3, the government will leave out parties it believes are fundamentally opposed to constructive dialogue. “It is not on the government’s agenda to include formations that come to break the system from within,” he said, referring to Vox and Aliança Catalana. The 6% funding target is tied to the 2009 Catalan education law. It remains unmet despite repeated promises, information from Crónica Global and Público.
The exclusion extends beyond parliament. The government plans to involve civil society and families, along with school leaders and universities, but says it will invite only “democratic forces.” Dalmau argued that far-right parties remove themselves from real debate, focusing on problems without offering solutions. As reported by 20 Minutos, the administration wants a broad agreement but has made clear which political actors it considers legitimate.
This comes as Catalonia’s education sector faces scrutiny. Recently, regional authorities sent inspectors to schools to enforce rules, sparking protests from staff. The push for a new education consensus is unfolding amid tension and competing ideas about the future of Catalan schools. The school year has also begun with ongoing teacher negotiations and union-led strikes. Some education sector representatives have criticized the government for failing to reach a stable agreement, adding to social and union tensions around the search for a new education pact. Information from Europa Press, Education Minister Ester Niubó has called for a new agreement involving teachers and families, alongside educational organizations, and has scheduled a meeting with unions for September 21.
Dalmau also referred to upcoming changes in regional financing. He expects the Council of Ministers to approve a new system within three weeks, potentially bringing Catalonia an extra €4.7 billion. The government hopes Junts will join the talks during the parliamentary phase, which could further shape the region’s finances.
By excluding Vox and Aliança Catalana, the Catalan government is making a clear political choice about who can help shape education policy. The move may make negotiations more manageable, but it also risks deepening divisions in a region where consensus is often fragile. The government is betting that working with selected groups will produce more stable reforms, even if some voices are left out.
