The new president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illahas put together a Government this Sunday that expands the number of departments and preserves parity – with a slight majority of women – in a mix of profiles ranging from socialists loyal to the leader of the PSC to technicians, experts and two former ministers of CiU.
Of the 14 departments of the Government of Peter AragonésIlla goes on to lead an executive with 16 counselorsin which there are eight men – including the president – and nine women.
Several names stand out who, due to their position or personal importance, could become heavyweights in the Government: Núria Parlon (Interior and Public Security), Albert Dalmau (Presidency), Silvia Paneque (Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, as well as spokesperson), Alicia Romero (Economy and Finance) and the appointment to the Ministry of European Union and Foreign Action, James Duchuntil now spokesperson for the European Parliament.
The high number of technical and specialized profiles in their management areas is striking, such as Olga Pané (Health), Monica Martinez Bravo (Social Rights and Inclusion), Francis Xavier Vila (Language Policy), Núria Montserrat Pulido (Research and Universities), Sonia Hernandez (Culture) and the basketball player Berni Alvarez for the new Department of Sports.
Illa insisted during and after the electoral campaign that his priority would be to guarantee the proper functioning of the public services and, to materialize it, it has opted above all for professional profiles.
Among the most striking signings we must also highlight the former Convergent Miquel Samperwho became Interior Minister in Quim Torra’s Government and who will not be the only member of the new executive with a past in the former CiU, since Ramon Espadalera long-standing leader of Unió Democràtica, returns to the Generalitat to take on the portfolio of Justice and Democratic Quality.
Two winks directed at also stand out ERC: for the Ministry of Linguistic Policy – included in the investiture agreement between republicans and socialists – Illa has chosen Francesc Xavier Vila, an expert in Catalan sociolinguistics who already worked for the Government of Pere Aragonès, while for Culture the current one has been promoted director general of Cultural Heritage, Sonia Hernández.
Illa’s team is completed by profiles with extensive experience in the PSC and specialization in their respective fields: Esther Niubó (Education and Vocational Training), Eva Minor (Equality and Feminism) and Oscar Ordeig (Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food).
The PSC municipal machinery has provided Illa with several important figures, such as that of the mayoress of Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona), Núria Parlon, the socialist leader in Girona, Sílvia Paneque, the manager of Barcelona City Council, Albert Dalmau, as well as the former mayoress of Badia del Vallès (Barcelona) Eva Menor.
The inauguration, this Monday
After the signing of their appointment and its publication in the Official Journal of the Generalitat of Catalonia (DOGC), the sixteen councilors will take possession of their positions this Monday, in an institutional act in the Sant Jordi Hall of the Palau de la Generalitatchaired by Salvador Illa.
After the portfolio holders swear or promise their positions, Illa will give a speech and, later, they will pose in what will be their first institutional photograph.
In this way, on Tuesday, August 13, Illa will be able to chair the first meeting of his new executive, which will get to work five days after the investiture plenary session in which the president of the Generalitat received the support of PSC, ERC y Common.
