Junts per Catalunya faces significant electoral challenges, with recent analyses indicating a substantial decline in support across the Barcelona metropolitan area. This comes as party leader Carles Puigdemont formally requested the Supreme Court to return ballot boxes and papers from the 2017 independence referendum.
The party's prospects in upcoming municipal elections appear particularly bleak, especially within the "red belt" surrounding Barcelona. This area, which concentrates over a third of Catalonia's population, currently shows zero representation for Junts in many key municipalities. These include L'Hospitalet, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Viladecans, Cornellà, Badia del Vallès, Sant Adrià del Besòs, Rubí, Barberà del Vallès, Montcada i Reixac, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, and Ripollet. This lack of urban presence represents a major hurdle for the party's broader political ambitions.
In Barcelona city, Junts could drop from second to fourth place, potentially losing half of its current eleven councillors. This projected decline fuels an internal power struggle within the party. Xavier Trias, a prominent figure, proposes Jordi Martí Galbis, the current head of the municipal list. However, Carles Puigdemont reportedly aims to introduce Josep Rius, a less known figure, without holding primary elections. This internal conflict further complicates the party's efforts to consolidate its position in the capital.
Puigdemont's Referendum Demands
Carles Puigdemont, as former President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, claims to be the "depositary" of the 2017 referendum materials. He demands the Supreme Court return the ballot boxes and papers. ABC Cataluña reported that the referendum, held on 1 October 2017, was deemed illegal. The publication also described it as a "rigged election" where voters allegedly inserted ballots multiple times into plastic ballot boxes. Puigdemont's continued focus on the 2017 event highlights his strategy to maintain the "mandate of 1 October" narrative.
Shifting Alliances and Rural Challenges
Junts also faces challenges in more rural areas, traditionally identified with Carlist Catalonia. Here, members are reportedly defecting to Aliança Catalana. This shift compels Junts to adopt a "Catalans first" rhetoric, echoing nationalist priorities. Additionally, Jordi Turull, a key Junts figure, has made agreements in 58 municipalities. These agreements are with the "Convergents" party led by Germà Gordó. Gordó's party presents itself as representing "people of order" and seeks a return to liberal conservative roots. This strategy aims to appeal to a more traditional conservative base.
Historical Context and Cultural Disputes
The current political climate for Junts reflects a longer history of nationalist parties' urban presence. In 1987, Jordi Pujol, then President of the Generalitat, dismantled the Barcelona Metropolitan Corporation. He viewed it as a counter-power to the Generalitat, aligned with Pasqual Maragall's socialist movement. Decades later, nationalist parties still struggle with urban implantation, particularly in the densely populated metropolitan areas. The article also recalls a past controversy involving writer Eduardo Mendoza. Nationalist figures, including Pujol, expressed reservations about his work. Sergio Vila-Sanjuán documented a 1997 encounter where Pujol, discussing Mendoza's contribution to Catalan culture, stated: "No és el mateix" ("it is not the same"). This response reportedly troubled Vila-Sanjuán, who questioned if Catalan literary tradition in Castilian was considered inferior or less Catalan. Despite these historical tensions, Mendoza's book, 'La intriga del funeral inconveniente' (The Intrigue of the Inconvenient Funeral), was the best-selling Castilian book on Sant Jordi, 23 April, demonstrating its broad appeal.
These electoral difficulties and internal disputes highlight a critical period for Junts per Catalunya. The party's ability to consolidate its base and address declining urban support will shape its future political influence. Observers will closely monitor the outcomes of upcoming elections and internal leadership decisions. The ongoing political shifts could redefine the nationalist movement's trajectory in Catalonia.
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Originally published by ABC Cataluña. Read original article.
