Catalonia’s Consell de Garanties Estatutàries has endorsed the new chamber law. The decision confirms the legality of reserved seats for major financial contributors. The move faced criticism from Comuns and CUP over business influence.
The Consell de Garanties Estatutàries (CGE) has given its approval to Catalonia’s new law on business chambers, including the contentious “sillas de plata” provision. This measure allows companies making higher voluntary financial contributions to secure reserved seats on chamber boards. The decision, released on Tuesday, comes after Comuns and CUP challenged the law, arguing it could tilt chamber governance in favor of larger businesses and undermine the principle of equal representation.
The CGE’s report concludes that the system of allocating board seats based on voluntary economic contributions does not violate either the Estatut d’Autonomia or the Spanish Constitution. According to the council, the law maintains democratic principles in the organization and functioning of the chambers. It also validates three types of candidacies: those elected by general vote, those proposed by business organizations and chosen by existing board members, and those reserved for companies with the highest voluntary contributions. The council notes that this last category is justified by the legitimate aim of ensuring the chambers’ financial sustainability.
Comuns and CUP had argued that higher financial contributions do not equate to greater representativeness or a stronger ability to defend the interests of the broader business community. They also warned that the measure could disrupt the balance of social dialogue by favoring business interests. Despite these objections, the CGE found no constitutional or statutory grounds to block the “sillas de plata” or other aspects of the law.
Beyond the issue of reserved seats, the CGE also endorsed the law’s provisions on chamber participation in public and public-private administrative bodies, as well as their involvement in vocational training. These points had also been questioned by the opposition groups. The law recognizes the chambers as consultative and collaborative bodies that represent, promote, and defend the general interests of commerce, industry, navigation, and services in Catalonia.
The legislative initiative, backed by PSC-Units, Junts, ERC, and PP, is still under debate in the Catalan Parliament. Its supporters argue that the law will help strengthen the role of chambers in supporting Catalan businesses, particularly through the creation of new chamber plans aimed at fostering collaboration with public administrations. The debate over the influence of economic power in public institutions is not unique to Catalonia. Similar concerns have surfaced in other regions and sectors, as seen in recent discussions about surveillance and public safety in Barcelona, where the expansion of security cameras has also sparked debate over governance and accountability.
Chambers of commerce in Spain have traditionally played a key role in representing business interests and facilitating dialogue between the private sector and government. The new law’s approach to funding and governance reflects ongoing efforts to adapt these institutions to changing economic realities. While the CGE’s endorsement removes a major legal obstacle, the political debate over the balance between financial support and democratic representation is likely to continue as the law moves forward in the legislative process.
