Just 15 minutes passed between three ads. The first one made it public criteriacaixa, the investment arm of the La Caixa Foundation, which after six in the afternoon communicated; Specifically, to the second black tower of Barcelona Diagonal Avenue. There are few enclaves with so much symbolism. The second note was lit by the Foundation itself, the soul of the group as it channels the social work, which also returned its headquarters to Barcelona. The third corresponded to the Ministry of Economy, who did not seem to surprise the happy outcome and celebrated “very good news.” It is the final signal “of the positive impact of the normalization of the political and economic situation in Catalonia.”
The succession of pronouncements confirms the political draft of the operation and complicity of the different actors, in what is the culmination of the good harmony between the Government of Pedro Sánchez and the group headed by Isidro Fainé. Both power nuclei share interests and shareholding for years in CaixaBank -where the State inherited the participation of Bankia -have strengthened their ties in Telefónica during this legislature -with common advances in capital to safeguard the strategic character of the operator after the entry of the Saudí Stc -and at least they have looked at each other and with tacit approval for operations (for the time) as the entrance of the Emiratí Taqa in Naturgy – participated of Criteriacaixa – or the future of Talgo.
For the Executive, Fainé’s gift is priceless. It is worth what was said with the return of the Sabadell to Catalonia raised to the stratosphere. Unlike the Movement of the Vallesan entity, the policy of pacts and appeasement staged by Sánchez and executed by Illa in Catalonia is not only endorsed here, but also opens a new economic stage for the autonomous community. The traction effect on other companies that can cause the return of the Caixa Empire to Catalonia is incomparable and its scope challenges any regulatory or political incentive. In fact, the employers and the businessmen themselves always linked that decision with the definitive symbol of true normalization.
The joy, however, is not always complete. Those who know Fainé say that, among the scenes, he used to compare the Caixa empire with the Blessed Trinity that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit form. The first and third, to the Foundation for Social Work, are already resting at home. They expect the prodigal son, the bank, who gives financial muscle to the equation and resists leaving Valencia. Time and legacy?
