The Parliament of Catalonia has passed a significant new law aimed at reinforcing the self-government of the Val d’Aran, the unique Occitan-speaking valley in the heart of the Pyrenees. Approved in a single reading, this legislation aims to transform the region’s special status from a mere declaration into a practical and effective reality within Catalonia’s legal system.
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The initiative, proposed by a broad coalition of parties including the Socialists (PSC), Junts, ERC, Comuns, and CUP, secured overwhelming support. The final vote was 109 in favour, with 11 votes against from the far-right Vox party and 15 abstentions from the People’s Party (PP). This move aims to consolidate Aranese self-rule and strengthen the powers of its distinct governing institution, the Conselh Generau d’Aran.
A ‘Historical Demand’ Fulfilled
For Aranese representatives and their allies in the Catalan Parliament, the law represents the culmination of a long-standing effort to guarantee the valley’s autonomy. Speaking in the chamber, PSC deputy Neus Comes described the approval as a response to “a historical demand of Aran.”
She highlighted the valley’s “singular institutional reality,” which Catalonia’s Statute of Autonomy first recognised and a special regime law in 2015 further defined. According to Comes, this new text marks a “qualitative leap of political and legal recognition” that grants “full competence in all areas” to the Aranese government.
The core of the legislation, as reported by VilaWeb, is a technical but crucial change. It modifies an existing decree to ensure that Catalonia’s general municipal and local governance laws will only apply to Aran in the absence of its own specific regulations, always respecting its unique status. This aims to prevent the Conselh Generau d’Aran from being treated as an ordinary county council or town hall.
Jeanine Abella of Junts per Catalunya expanded on this point, noting that people have often misunderstood Aran’s self-government. “People have often equated the Conselh Generau with a local government, a county council, or a town hall,” she argued. Abella stated the new law must prevent this confusion and fully recognise the executive powers of the Aranese government, underscoring the importance of its unique identity and the Aranese language, a dialect of Occitan.
Cross-Party Support and Dissent
The wide-ranging support for the bill underscored a rare moment of consensus in Catalan politics. Ester Capella, a deputy for Esquerra Republicana (ERC), framed the law as a matter of principle. She said the proposal aimed to be “coherent” with ERC’s own push for greater self-determination for Catalonia, applying the principles of “respect and recognition” to Aran.
However, the support came with notable qualifications. Lluís Mijoler of En Comú Podem praised the law as “an important step” but delivered a critical reminder that autonomy requires resources. “Self-government without resources is an incomplete self-government,” he stated, calling for a “just, stable, and sufficient” funding model to make the new powers effective. This reflects wider debates over fiscal power, such as the one currently stalling the 2024 Catalan budget.
Representing the pro-independence CUP, Xavier Pellicer acknowledged the modification was a positive step within the existing legal framework. He cautioned, however, that it was “far from the sovereignty that the CUP yearns for,” both for Aran and for the wider Catalan Countries.
From Legal Text to Practical Power
The new law is a clear attempt to formalise a decentralised power structure, a move that contrasts with complaints from some local leaders about a Barcelona-centric approach to governance, a phenomenon sometimes dubbed ‘Barcelunya’. By legally shielding Aran’s unique institutional framework, the Parliament aims to prevent broader administrative norms from eroding its autonomy.
Ultimately, the future success of this enhanced self-government will depend on the financial commitments that follow. As the Comuns’ deputy pointed out, legal recognition is only the first step. Ensuring the Conselh Generau d’Aran has the budget to exercise its “full competence” will be the true test of this new legislation and Catalonia’s commitment to its most distinct territory.
