Vox had "no idea" about the government reshuffle: "The rumor that we were going to remove Cirer is false."

PalmThe left interpreted the government reshuffle announced on Friday as a strengthening of the alliance between the PP and Vox. But several Vox sources consulted claim to be unaware of the plans of the president, Marga Prohens. In fact, they specify that the government did not inform the spokesperson for the Vox parliamentary group, Manuela Cañadas, until shortly before the press conference. "We had no idea," these sources insist. The same sources also deny that the party called for the dismissal of the Minister of Families and Social Affairs, Catalina Cirer, with whom they had clashed in Parliament over issues such as immigration and gender-based violence. "Rumors have spread that it was our idea, but I doubt that with her replacement, Sandra Fernández, we will have it any easier," says a party source, who emphasizes that the new minister defines herself as a progressive liberal.

Both these sources and the Catalan government therefore deny statements such as those made by PSIB spokesperson Iago Negueruela, who said on Friday that "Vox is taking revenge on Cirer," while Lluís Apesteguia (MÁS for Mallorca) considered the changes to respond to the PP's "need" to reach an understanding with Vox. Beyond that, the party, which supports the government in parliament, has so far avoided commenting on the changes. A spokesperson from the party positively highlights the fact that the General Directorate of Immigration will now report to the Department of the Presidency, with Antònia Estarellas, who considers her to have a tougher profile than Cirer and Fernández, who are at the helm. "It shows that importance will be given to the issue," she asserts.

A plan carried out with discretion

The president discreetly engineered the reshuffle in recent months. According to sources within her team, the creation of the Ministry of Labor, headed by Catalina Cabrer, began in March, when the Pact for Sustainability began the second phase of drafting proposals to contain overcrowding in tourism. Cabrer, who was then the regional secretary of Labor, Employment, and Social Dialogue, acted as the liaison between the platform and the regional government. With her promotion to minister, she will be responsible for leading this phase. "Everyone saw it as very obvious that the Ministry was insufficient," these sources emphasize. Other sources close to the executive consider that it was "well known that Cabrer served as shadow minister" in the area of Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro, who will now head the Department of Business, Self-Employed Workers, and Energy. As things stand, explain the ARA BalearesThis is one of the councillors who has stood out for his lack of political action since the beginning of the legislature.

Regarding the creation of a second vice-presidency to replace Antònia Estarellas, the decision was made weeks ago to "strengthen Estarellas and reward her for the work she has done," these sources continue. One of her new responsibilities is to prepare the party for the upcoming regional and municipal elections, through the new General Directorate of Local Cooperation. Estarellas' promotion is also due to the fact that, as explained by the ARA BalearesThe Vice President, Spokesperson, and Minister of Economy, Finance, and Innovation, Antoni Costa, was a "too omnipresent" figure. "He had a lot of weight on his shoulders," these sources emphasize. Thus, the most unexpected change has been Cirer's. According to government sources, the president's closest team learned of the decision the same week it was made public in the media.