Catalan political parties agree on democratic memory law and election pacts

Political parties in Catalonia have reached an agreement on a new democratic memory law. The legislation mandates the removal of the Francoist monument in Tortosa within one year and requires all other Francoist symbols to be removed from public spaces within two years. The law also establishes fines ranging from 200 to 150,000 euros for the exaltation of Francoism or damage to memory sites. Additionally, a technical commission will be created to investigate human rights violations and propose reparations for victims.

Separately, tensions are rising within the Catalan left ahead of the Spanish elections on November 29. Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) has confirmed a bilateral collaboration agreement with Podemos, which involves Podemos not running candidates in Catalonia to support ERC. This decision has faced criticism from some ERC militants and former officials, such as Dolors Bassa, who questioned the lack of consultation with the party membership. While ERC leadership maintains this is a collaboration rather than a formal coalition, Gabriel Rufián has called for further understanding between ERC and the Comuns to prevent political fragmentation.