Jaume Giró, former Economy Minister of Catalonia, has resigned from Junts per Catalunya. His exit follows months of disagreements with party leadership over strategy and alliances. The move highlights ongoing tensions within the party.
Jaume Giró, who served as Economy Minister in the Catalan government, has officially ended his membership in Junts per Catalunya. The decision, confirmed by the party and first reported by Nació, comes after a lengthy period of distancing from the party’s leadership and internal decision-making. Giró’s departure marks the culmination of a conflict that began in October 2022, when Junts withdrew from the coalition government led by Pere Aragonès (ERC). At that time, Giró openly opposed the leadership’s push to leave the coalition, a stance later endorsed by party members in an internal vote.
Giró, who entered politics after a prominent executive career at La Caixa, Repsol, and Gas Natural, represented the pragmatic wing within Junts per Catalunya. His resignation removes a key voice for moderation and negotiation from the party’s ranks, leaving this internal current even more marginalized. According to party sources, Giró had been largely absent from strategic discussions for several months before making his departure official.
Throughout his time in Junts, Giró advocated for a more flexible approach to alliances, arguing that the party should seek agreements to increase its influence in Catalan institutions. He was particularly vocal about the need to consider deals with the PSC, a position that clashed directly with the hard line maintained by Carles Puigdemont and Jordi Turull, who have consistently rejected cooperation with the Socialists. This strategic disagreement became a central point of friction between Giró and the party leadership.
In 2023, Giró stepped down from both the party’s executive committee and his seat in the Catalan Parliament, citing fundamental differences with the direction Junts was taking. In a public statement, he explained that the party’s current orientation did not align with his vision for Catalonia’s political needs. His exit now formalizes a split that had been evident for some time.
Junts per Catalunya, once a dominant force in Catalan politics, currently holds no power in the governments of Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida, or Girona. Its main strongholds are now medium-sized cities such as Sant Cugat del Vallès, Vic, and Figueres. The party’s ongoing debate over whether to prioritize influence through alliances or maintain a strict independence stance continues to shape its internal dynamics. Giró’s departure underscores the challenges Junts faces in balancing ideological purity with political pragmatism.
For context, Junts per Catalunya emerged from the broader Catalan independence movement and has experienced several internal splits over strategy and leadership since its formation. The party’s refusal to collaborate with the PSC has limited its ability to participate in key municipal and regional governments. As Catalonia’s political landscape remains fragmented, the loss of figures like Giró may further complicate Junts’ efforts to regain influence. The situation reflects broader tensions within Catalan politics, where questions of independence, governance, and coalition-building remain unresolved.
