Xavier Valls challenges the secretary general of the Catalan PP: "Let’s see if you have the guts to say it in front of your bosses"

TV3 presenter Xavier Valls has taken aim at the new secretary general of the Catalan PP, Juan Fernández, for his statements on Catalonia's funding, challenging him to repeat them before his superiors.

The presenter of TV3, Xavier Valls, is making headlines once again. In the midst of his holidays and with his characteristic direct style, he responded to the statements made by the new secretary general of the Catalan PP, Juan Fernández, regarding the funding of Catalonia. In a tweet, Valls challenged him to defend his position before his national bosses.

The words of Juan Fernández that provoked the reaction

In an interview with El Periódico, Fernández stated that "Catalonia needs better funding, it should receive as much money as it contributes and has the right to receive more than the rest if it contributes much more. This is common sense. But the model must be agreed upon through multilateral means, not with ERC."

These statements did not go unnoticed by Valls, who responded on X (formerly Twitter) with a strong message: "Let’s see if you have the guts to say it in front of your bosses." The presenter accompanied the text with a link to the interview.

A presenter who speaks his mind

Xavier Valls is known for his direct and uncompromising style. This is not the first time he has waded into political issues. Two years ago, after returning from a leave due to a heart attack, he famously said that "La Roja doesn’t matter to me" in reference to the Spanish national team. Now, with the team in the World Cup final, he is back at it with a sensitive topic: Catalan funding.

The presenter of the Onze programme on TV3 is enjoying a few days off, as demonstrated by his attendance at a concert by the group Obeses with his collaborator Joan Poquí. But even holidays do not stop him from expressing his opinions.

What does Valls' challenge imply?

Valls' challenge highlights the internal contradiction within the Catalan PP. Juan Fernández, recently elected secretary general after Alejandro Fernández reaffirmed his leadership, advocates for a unique funding model for Catalonia, but within a multilateral framework. Valls demands that he bring this discourse to the national leadership of the party, where the funding model tends to be more restrictive.

For readers interested in Catalan politics, this episode reflects the tensions within the Catalan PP and its relationship with the state leadership. The question is whether Fernández will maintain his stance in the offices of Génova or, as Valls suggests, moderate his discourse.

So far, Valls' tweet has garnered thousands of interactions and has reopened the debate on regional funding. It remains to be seen whether Fernández will take up the challenge and respond publicly to the presenter.