ERC, EH Bildu, and BNG have decided to reissue the electoral coalition with which they ran in the European elections four years ago and obtained three seats. Now Repúblicas, as this alliance of a Catalan, Basque, and Galician party was called, will be repeated for the upcoming electoral appointment in June. This time, it includes a fourth party: the members of the Balearic party Ara Més have voted in favor of running on this nationalist candidacy instead of being part of Sumar, the platform with which they ran in the last general elections. The pact was signed in Barcelona on Thursday. Diana Riba, the candidate for ERC and seeking reelection, explained that the focus of their political proposal for the next term will continue to be the demand for self-determination for Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia, as well as the co-official status of Catalan, Basque, and Galician as languages of EU institutions.
Now Repúblicas will promote a “community clarity law” to “help resolve sovereignty conflicts within the European Union,” and hopes that the three languages will not only be co-official in EU institutions but also “working languages in the European Parliament.” Pernando Barrena, the candidate for EH Bildu, stated that they would tackle this challenge from a European perspective, confronting austerity policies and advocating for human security and peace rather than NATO, wars, and militarism. This renewed coalition of ERC, EH Bildu, and BNG came together five years ago to contest the European elections, after previous collaborations like Europe of the Peoples in 2009. Despite a complicated political moment in 2019, with the trial of the leaders of the pro-independence movement in Catalonia, Junqueras, Riba, and Barrena were able to secure their seats with over 1.2 million votes.
These votes were crucial for Ahora Repúblicas, which garnered 5.5% of the total votes in Spain, with over 730,000 coming from Catalonia. In contrast to the unique circumstances of 2019, where even Carles Puigdemont led a list from Brussels, the current republicans are facing a significant demobilization of their electorate. Junqueras, present at the agreement signing, praised their coalition partners, EH Bildu and BNG, as more than just allies but friends, comrades, and long-standing allies in many struggles. With the incorporation of Ara Més as a new partner, Now Repúblicas aims to gain territorial presence while Sumar loses out. The Balearic party chose to join the nationalist list in a internal vote, emphasizing the importance of Balearic sovereignty in Europe according to their coordinator, Mateu Mates.
This coalition represents a continued effort to push for self-determination and linguistic recognition within the EU, showcasing the shared values and goals of the Catalan, Basque, Galician, and Balearic parties involved. By coming together once again, they hope to amplify their voices and advocacy for their respective regions’ rights and aspirations at the European level. The inclusion of new partners and the reiteration of their commitment to these principles underscores the importance of cooperation and solidarity among nationalist movements in the face of ongoing challenges and opportunities within the European political landscape. Ultimately, this coalition seeks to consolidate and strengthen their representation and impact in the European Parliament, advocating for the rights and interests of their respective constituencies while contributing to a more diverse and inclusive European political discourse.
