Gabriel Rufián, spokesperson for Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), warned the PSOE that its primary conflict lies with ordinary citizens during a speech in Congress.
The address signals a deepening rift between the pro-independence party and the Spanish government, while simultaneously exposing internal power struggles within the ERC regarding future electoral strategies.
Speaking at the Congress of the Deputies in Madrid on Wednesday, June 5 [3], Rufián targeted the PSOE's perceived isolation from the public. He said the problem the party faces is with the people who have been defended in their workplaces, bars, and streets, and said those citizens are now disappointed, angry, and ashamed.
Beyond the critique of the PSOE, the speech served as a catalyst for internal ERC tensions. Rufián has linked his future involvement in the party's electoral list to specific internal conditions. He said he will not run again for ERC in general elections unless those conditions are met.
The political friction extended to other pro-independence factions. During the session, Rufián read the names of seven [1] Junts deputies and displayed a 50-euro bill [2] to them. This gesture highlighted the growing volatility between the ERC and Junts.
These public displays of tension have drawn criticism from within Rufián's own party. On Monday, June 1, Jordi Salvador expressed a warning regarding the current political climate. He said that patience has a limit.
Rufián's strategy appears to be a dual-track approach—pressuring the national government while asserting a leadership position within his own party's internal hierarchy. By publicly demanding control over the electoral list and the party line, Rufián is positioning himself as a critical voice in the lead-up to future general elections.
“"El problema lo tienen con la gente... Ahora están decepcionados, cabreados y avergonzados."”
Rufián's actions indicate a shift toward a more aggressive, individualized political strategy that risks alienating both the PSOE government and Junts allies. By tying his candidacy to internal conditions, he is leveraging his public profile to force a realignment of the ERC's internal power structure and electoral priorities.
