Catalans are called to the polls this Sunday, May 12 to elect their deputies. For the first time since 2010, the separatists are in difficulty. The forces present, decryption with Benoît Pellistrandi, historian specializing in contemporary Spain.
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Voters in this rich region are called upon to elect the 135 deputies of their regional parliament.
The Socialist Party is taking its place again, explains Benoît Pellistrandi, historian specializing in contemporary Spain. Pedro Sánchez, the head of the Spanish government, resurfaced in Catalonia in early Mayduring a Catalan campaign meeting.
“ Catalan political life is extraordinarily turbulent. The Socialist Party has always had in Catalonia a very important force, especially in national elections. But between 2011 and 2017, it found itself in a state of weakness which undoubtedly contributed to the acceleration of the independence movement, and it was at that time replaced by other options, notably the centrist movement Ciutadans- Ciudadanos, who was born in Catalonia. But it turns out that Ciudadanos – on a national level – collapsed and that Ciutadans – at the Catalan level – too. For someone who does not want to be a separatist and who also does not want to be very right-wing, there are not many other options than to vote socialist. And this is undoubtedly the reason why the Socialist Party is in the lead today in voting intentions. But on the other hand, he is leading between 28 and 30% of the votes, so it is a small third of the electorate. And what we have in Catalonia is indeed an extremely fragmented electorate. »
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Independentists on the far right too
Another novelty, the appearance of a far-right Catalan independence party, Aliança Catalana, which can compete Vox, the far-right party anti-independence.
Aliança Catalana « has nothing to do with Vox. It is a split from Junts per Catalunya. They are right-wing separatists who find that Carles Puigdemont is weak. Part of Catalan nationalism is xenophobic and racist nationalism. For a long time, the racism of the Catalans was only expressed towards the Castilians and for a long time, the Catalan authorities favored North African immigration, because it made it possible to bring to Catalonia people who did not speak Castilian. and who were therefore going to learn Catalan. Today, we see that these movements have produced a feeling of xenophobia. The big difference with Vox, which is also present in Catalonia and which, in the previous elections in 2021, obtained a very considerable score – since there were almost 9% of the votes and 11 deputies -, Vox is a party anti-independence but also anti-immigration, and now there is a pro-independence and anti-immigration party. »
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Puigdemont, kingmaker in Madrid
Whatever the result of these elections, their leader Carles Puigdemont will keep its power at the national level, assures Benoît Pellistrandi.
“ Carles Puigdemont and his party, Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia) have 7 deputies in Madrid. The ratio of parliamentary forces is 172 seats for the entire opposition – Popular Party-Vox and Union of the Navarrese People (Unión del Pueblo Navarro, UPN) and 171 seats for the All Socialist Coalition Sumar and Basque Catalan independence activist. However, the 7 deputies of Junts per Catalunya are those who allow Pedro Sanchez to have the absolute majority and to be at 178 [sièges au Parlement, ndlr]. They invested him in November but in January, they voted against Pedro Sanchez. And Pedro Sanchez failed to pass a number of laws and, in particular, he failed to pass his budget. So the 7 deputies of Junts per Catalunya are making rain and shine in the Parliament in Madrid and this is the reason why Carles Puigdemont is – whatever the result of this Sunday – the kingmaker in Barcelona and Madrid. »
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