Carles Puigdemont, a prominent figure in the Catalan elections
The Catalan elections of 12 May have highlighted the impact of Carles Puigdemont on Catalan politics. His announcement to present himself as a candidate for the presidency of the Generalitat has generated great anticipation in Catalonia and has awakened passions in Spain. Despite the critics and detractors, Puigdemont seems to have significant and potentially decisive support in these elections.
A transversal candidacy with political alliances
To give an image of transversality, JxCat has allied itself with seven other political formations, such as Democrates de Catalunya, Moviment d’Esquerres and Reagrupament, among others. This coalition has created a candidacy called Puigdemont for Catalonia, which seeks to represent a broad base of support. Unlike the previous elections, this time it has been decided not to hide the name of the party, but the intention remains to strengthen the brand and prestige of JxCat.
The fragmentation of the independence space
The upcoming Catalan elections are characterized by the presence of several candidates, which reflect the fragmentation of the pro-independence space. In addition to the traditional JxCat, ERC and the CUP, other formations such as Aliança Catalana, Alhora, Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència and the National Front of Catalonia have joined. This diversity of candidates demonstrates the lack of parties and leaders that represent the pro-independence space in a unified way.
Abstention as a determining factor
One of the key factors in these elections is the abstention of pro-independence voters disenchanted with traditional brands. Abstention from the municipal and Spanish elections of 2023 was a sign of dissatisfaction with the performance of the pro-independence parties. The new candidacies arise with the aim of collecting these discontents and avoiding abstention, but at the same time, these candidacies can legitimize the existing political system and collaborate in its perpetuation.
The concern of traditional parties
Traditional parties see abstention as a threat, as it puts their income and political positions at risk. For this reason, they are interested in demobilizing the abstentionists and preventing electoral participation from increasing. The new candidacies are seen as a tool to achieve this goal, since they can capture the disaffected and minimize the impact of the new formations in the Parliament.
The challenge of the Catalan elections
The upcoming Catalan elections represent a challenge for all political parties. The abstention, the fragmentation of the pro-independence space and the competition between the different candidates are determining factors in the final result. The voter has the right to know the strategies and objectives of each political formation and to make an informed decision at the polls.
