Together for Catalonia it doesn’t change the script. After the revelations of THE NEWSPAPERwho has published the testimony of six women about the harassment allegedly committed by the former parliamentary spokesman for Junts Edward Pujol, the party maintains its course on how to proceed with its former deputy: the legal case has gone its way and two magistrates have sent two women to trial against whom Pujol sued for insults. One of the two judicial investigators also observes indications that one of those women carried out “Actions of pressure, intimidation and defamation”.
Pujol’s case generates a notable internal discomfort in the formation. And some leader consulted admits his anxiety upon learning the content of the version of the two women denounced by the former deputy in the journalistic information, and the rest of the published testimonies, such as that of the journalists Nuria Casas Y Ana Polo. However, prudence guides the official action of the party. From the outset, they remember that in his day it was decided in a sudden way – perhaps too categorically and forcefully, some leaders privately assume – to remove Pujol before information of “sufficiently serious and urgent” content about his behavior.
But later, as the lawsuits that Pujol filed against the two women for insults in court progressed and, in turn, they chose not to formalize any legal complaint against him, the party also solemnly announced that it would reinstate Pujol as a militant and in a position of responsibility. Negotiations have been going on for months in this regard and no conclusion has been reached.
For his part, Pujol has shown his indignation at Junts’ actions and, according to sources close to him, has attributed the sudden expulsion to the animus against him of some leaders. That is why he demands full restitution, in a position of responsibility equivalent to the one he held as spokesman in Parliament.
Temporary suspension?
In parallel, the guarantee commission – an internal party body – has the mandate to study the measures to be taken with respect to the councilwoman – whose testimony also includes information from EL PERIÓDICO – from the same party as Pujol.
The management maintains that it still does not know the content of the commission’s report, but it points to the possibility that the proposal that it submits to the management is that of the temporary suspension of membership of the councilor involved. A prudent measure while waiting for justice to judge this case.
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The fact that the party executive ends up voting in favor of a punitive measure against the councilor generates some concern in some leader. Calls at all times to presumption of innocence to address this thorny issue.
“The absence of a complaint does not mitigate the seriousness”
The matter began with a report that has already collected the testimony of several women. The case caused Junts to draw up a protocol a year ago, in June 2021, to “prevent, address and solve” conflicts in matters of sexist violence, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Protocol that indicates, among other things, that “the absence of a complaint does not diminish the seriousness of the act and does not deny the existence of a possible crime.”