Carles Puigdemont is attempting to influence the selection of Junts' mayoral candidate for Barcelona, aiming to bypass former mayor Xavier Trias's preferred choice. Sources within Junts explain Puigdemont wants a pre-agreed list, avoiding a potentially damaging internal primary election. This move comes as the party postpones its candidate designation until just before summer, seeking Trias's acceptance of the proposed solution.
Trias has resisted attempts from Puigdemont's camp to impose Josep Rius, Junts' vice-president, as the lead candidate for Barcelona City Council. Trias, who controls the Junts Barcelona Federation, instead supports current city councillor Josep Martí i Galbis for the top spot. NacióDigital reported that Puigdemont now offers a single list: Josep Rius as the head, a woman in second place, and Josep Martí in the third position. This list would then face a vote by the Barcelona Federation, aiming to legitimise the leadership's choice.
Puigdemont seeks to avoid primaries at all costs. He knows that a primary election in the Catalan capital would require his deep involvement. The Barcelona area is not particularly favourable to his political interests, sources indicate, according to Junts per Catalunya official website. A loss, or even a narrow victory, would weaken his standing within the party.
Avoiding Internal Primaries
Junts' general secretary, Jordi Turull, supports Puigdemont in this effort. Turull also views primaries in Barcelona as a risk to the party leadership's authority. Their authority would face significant questions if primaries proceed. The party currently faces poor prospects for the upcoming municipal elections. Junts holds eight councillors in Barcelona but surveys suggest they may secure only five or six.
Junts' Metropolitan Challenges
One significant concern for Junts is the possibility of the conservative People's Party (PP) surpassing them. The PP has already named Daniel Sirera as its candidate. Some polls indicate the PP could become the third-largest force in Barcelona, ahead of Junts. Beyond the fifth position on Junts' list, no candidate is guaranteed a seat.
Junts has already lost its presence in Barcelona's first metropolitan ring, holding only two councillors in El Prat de Llobregat. They maintain control in Sant Cugat del Vallès, where they expect to win again. However, their outlook remains poor in other areas. In Sabadell, Junts suspended two councillors, losing all representation there. The party risks being excluded from the plenary sessions in Terrassa and Sabadell, a situation already seen in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Badalona. This could leave Junts outside the majority of cities where most Catalans live. Meanwhile, Aliança Catalana gains ground in smaller towns.
The "Anti-Colau" Effect
Junts has repeatedly postponed the decision on its Barcelona mayoral candidate. The official reason has been Puigdemont's delayed return, often due to legal issues. However, underlying organisational problems and poor electoral prospects also play a role. The party struggles with political repositioning and leadership issues. Junts finds it difficult to act as an effective opposition, especially after losing the Generalitat and failing to articulate a clear political message since the 2017 defeat.
Xavier Trias's strong performance in the 2023 Barcelona mayoral election was partly misleading. The "anti-Colau" effect was as significant as any "Trias effect." Without Ada Colau as mayor, Junts lacks a clear opponent and the city's politics return to a more predictable state. This environment often favours the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) under Salvador Illa and Jaume Collboni.
The party leadership hopes Xavier Trias, aged 79, will ultimately accept the proposed pact. If he does not, the Junts Barcelona Federation would likely hold primaries between Josep Rius and Josep Martí i Galbis. Puigdemont and Turull are determined to prevent this outcome, believing it would undermine the party's central authority. The final decision on the candidate remains pending until before the summer.
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Originally published by El Confidencial. Read original article.
