Junts per Catalunya has sharply criticized the PSC-led government at the halfway point of its term. The party claims Salvador Illa’s leadership has worsened key sectors in Catalonia. Infrastructure, housing, and education are at the center of the dispute.
Junts per Catalunya has delivered a scathing assessment of the PSC government’s performance at the midpoint of its mandate, arguing that Salvador Illa’s leadership has left Catalonia in a worse state than two years ago. Speaking outside the Parliament, Mònica Sales, head of the JxCat parliamentary group, accused the regional executive of failing to address fundamental issues such as infrastructure, mobility, housing, and education. According to Sales, the government has been absent when residents needed support most, and its management style is marked by what she described as systematic incompetence.
Sales argued that the PSC, which campaigned as a guarantee of effective governance after years of independence-focused administrations, has instead presided over growing problems. She pointed to the collapse of key infrastructure, highlighting the deteriorating state of the Rodalies commuter rail service and the AP-7 motorway, which she called a “permanent bottleneck.” In her view, Rodalies has become unreliable for daily commuters, while the AP-7’s congestion remains unresolved. The opposition leader also criticized the government’s handling of education, warning that the new school year is set to begin amid ongoing labor disputes, and noted that waiting times for healthcare and dependency support have lengthened.
Junts further accused the PSC of prioritizing the interests of Madrid over those of Catalonia, claiming that Illa acts more as a representative of the PSOE in the region than as a defender of Catalan interests in the Spanish capital. Sales argued that the government’s alignment with directives from Pedro Sánchez has left Catalonia without a strong voice in national negotiations. She also cited figures showing that state investment per capita in Catalonia stands at €162, compared to €452 in Madrid, fueling the party’s claims of neglect.
The party’s criticism comes as Junts awaits the possible return of its leader Carles Puigdemont to Catalonia, a move that could reshape the political landscape. Sales described Junts as the only real alternative to what she called the “anesthesia” currently affecting Catalan society, insisting that the region is “falling apart” while Illa remains passive in his office. The debate over the government’s performance echoes broader concerns about public service delivery and regional investment, issues that have also surfaced in other parts of Spain. For example, recent reports have highlighted how gaps in urgent care for non-Spaniards at Madrid’s Puerta de Hierro hospital have raised questions about the system’s priorities, as seen in cases of foreign patients left waiting for days in emergency wards.
Contextually, Catalonia’s infrastructure and public services have long been a point of contention between regional and national authorities. The Rodalies network, in particular, has faced chronic delays and maintenance issues, often sparking commuter frustration. The AP-7, a major artery for both local and cross-border traffic, has struggled with congestion since tolls were lifted, increasing pressure on the road system. Education and healthcare remain politically sensitive, with frequent disputes over funding, staffing, and language policy. The debate over state investment per capita is a recurring theme in Catalan politics, fueling calls for greater fiscal autonomy and more equitable resource allocation. As the PSC government enters the second half of its term, the effectiveness of its response to these challenges will likely remain under close scrutiny from both opposition parties and the public.
