Salvador Illa officially became the new president of the Generalitat on Saturday. After being sworn in last Thursday thanks to the votes of ERC and the Comuns, the socialist took office at an event in the Palau de la Generalitat in which the former president Pere Aragonès handed him over and awarded him the presidential medal.
“I promise on my conscience and honour to faithfully fulfil the obligations of my position, with loyalty to the King, the Constitution, the Statute of Autonomy and the national institutions of Catalonia,” Illa promised.
“I inherit a legacy that is the depository of the desires, hopes and will to govern of the people of Catalonia,” said Illa, who had his first words in memory of all the former presidents, with special emphasis on Josep Tarradellas, and also mentioning Romà Planes, former mayor of Roca del Vallès and considered Illa’s political mentor.
Illa has admitted to being “excited” to receive a position in which he has assured that his main concern will be “that all Catalans feel represented”. The socialist has also had words of gratitude for the outgoing president, Pere Aragonès, whom he thanked for an “exemplary” transfer of powers.
“Catalonia is a welcoming land. A land of solidarity. Our will to exist is a will to live together. The defence of language, culture and land is never against anyone,” Illa said.
Josep Rull, the President of the Parliament, also took part in the event, in charge of reading the agreement of the Chamber that made him head of the Government. Also present were an important representation of the central Government, with the Vice President and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, the Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, the Minister of Industry, Jordi Hereu, the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, and the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant.
Salvador Illa, 58, first secretary of the PSC since 2021 and former Spanish Minister of Health during the COVID pandemic, has become the 133rd president according to the traditional reckoning of the historic Generalitat, and the 13th of the democratic presidents since Francesc Macià.
The socialist president will now compose his new Executive, which will continue to be made up of 14 ministries, the same as the last term. The first names of the new Government have already been revealed, with Albert Dalmau, until now manager of the Barcelona City Council, as the new Minister of the Presidency, Javier Millamayor in the position of Secretary of the Government, and Eduard Rivas, current Mayor of Esparreguera, as Chief of Staff of the President.
Source: www.eldiario.es
