The socialists who won Sunday’s general election fell well short of an absolute majority and fugitive former regional president Carles Puigdemont seeks to form a minority separatist government despite a punishing night for Catalans. Following the pledge, Catalonia is preparing for tense negotiations to form a government. independence movement.
The snap elections called in March after the opposition rejected a budget proposed by the minority government of Catalan President Pere Aragonés could prove costly for the separatist party, which lost its parliamentary majority. found.
The Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) came in first place with 42 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament and 28% of the vote.
Catalonia’s three main pro-independence parties, the pragmatic and moderate ERC led by Aragonés, the hard-line centre-right “Together for Catalonia” (Juntz) led by Puigdemont, and the far-left Popular Unity candidate lost their majority. , decreased from 74 seats in the previous election to 2016 seats. The vote rate was 39.4%, or 59 votes.
Although it fell short of the 68 seats needed for an absolute majority, the PSC marked the beginning of a new era in Catalan politics and society, and a decisive break from the turmoil caused by Puigdemont’s unilateral and illegal secession push. He praised the victory. 2017.
“Catalonia has decided to open a new era,” PSC leader Salvador Illa told supporters at party headquarters Sunday night. “The voters of Catalonia have decided that the Socialist Party will lead this new era, and it is my intention to become the next president of Catalonia.”
Mr. Illa is a close ally of Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who campaigned on a promise to unite communities and improve public services. Sánchez’s government hailed the PSC’s result as proof of its conciliatory approach to the so-called Catalan issue, particularly the introduction of controversial amnesties for Puigdemont and others involved in the push for independence.
“Salvador Illa’s victory marks the end of the independence process, thanks to the policies of harmony, dialogue and coexistence adopted by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez,” a government official said. “Catalan people supported this in their votes. With this election, Catalonia is determined to open a new stage.”
Puigdemont said he would ignore Illa’s victory and form a pro-independence minority government.
“It’s not an absolute majority, but we can put together a coherent majority, but it would be a bigger number than Illa,” said Puigdemont, who is campaigning in France while awaiting the amnesty. Deaf,” he said. “The important thing is to ensure that Catalonia has a functioning government that can stand up to Madrid. Secondly, to avoid fresh elections, [which] That would be very bad news for Catalonia, for stability and for the Catalan people. ”
Mr Puigdemont acknowledged the independence movement’s poor performance and said Sunday’s results required “deep reflection” on divisions within the movement and why so many voters stayed at home.
As a result of the results, Aragonés announced that he would resign from his parliamentary position. He said that the formation of Catalonia’s next government is a matter between the PSC and Juntz.
“We have decided to respect the people’s decision. We must move to become an opposition party,” he said.
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Sunday’s election is likely to lead to days and weeks of consensus-building and horse-trading as both blocs seek to form a governing alliance to present proposals to regional MPs.
The left-wing coalition, made up of the PSC, ERC, and the left-wing Commune Smar coalition, will win the 68 seats needed for a majority. But Aragonés, who became Catalonia’s president almost exactly three years ago, has repeatedly rejected the disputed agreement between the ERC and the PSC on ideological grounds. Speaking on Monday, he reiterated that the party has no intention of “facilitating PSC appointments.”
Puigdemont’s pro-independence coalition will win 59 seats, likely excluding the new far-right party Alianza Catalunya, which won two seats.
The situation is further complicated by the domestic political situation. After last summer’s inconclusive general election, Sanchez not only had to make a U-turn and promise amnesty in return for helping the ERC and Jantz return to power, but also It continues to rely on their support to bring to power a faction government. To legislate through Congress.
The conservative People’s Party (PP), which calls amnesty “the greatest affront to the dignity, equality and separation of powers found in Western democracies,” came fourth in Sunday’s general election, increasing its number of seats from three to 15. did.
PP leader Alberto Nuñez Feijó called the results “extraordinary and far beyond our expectations.” The liberal Civic Party, which came first in Catalonia’s 2017 regional elections and was once the great hope of Spain’s centre-right, suffered another disappointing result, losing all six seats.
