The Catalan elections on May 12 are more than just regional elections, with implications beyond who governs the Generalitat. Catalonia is crucial for Spanish politics and the country’s governance and stability. The PSC is predicted to maintain its position as the most voted party, a sign of political change after the turbulent years of the procés, but the independence movement still holds almost half of the seats. Despite a legislature marked by clashes between Esquerra and Junts, both parties are now in fierce competition for hegemony among the independence electorate. The campaign leading up to the elections is intense, with every vote seen as crucial in a close race where Carles Puigdemont and Oriol Junqueras are both pushing the independence agenda.
The Socialist party is focusing on amnesty as a resolution to the procés and on improving public services to move past the identity debate. The decision of the Government to appeal to the Constitutional Court a popular legislative initiative to unilaterally declare independence, approved by the Parliament, adds to the tense atmosphere ahead of the elections. The entrance of Puigdemont as the candidate for Junts to lead the government has shifted the focus of the campaign, with the former president emphasizing the need to “finish the job” of independence. Meanwhile, the PSC is staying committed to strengthening self-governance with proposals like building desalination plants and improving healthcare and education.
ERC is also intensifying its push for independence, with leaders like Marta Rovira discussing the referendum with the PSOE, despite the party’s denial. The main battle between Esquerra and Junts is over who is more independentist or more radical in their positions. The government’s decision to appeal the popular initiative is an attempt to attract disenchanted voters from the constitutionalist side while also appealing to pragmatic pro-independence voters. The campaign is centered around moving away from the identity debate and focusing on social and economic issues that were overshadowed by the independence process.
The government’s decision to challenge the popular initiative in the Constitutional Court has raised tensions, with the Socialists rejecting a referendum as an option. The main focus for the PSC and Salvador Illa in the upcoming elections is on normalization, public services, and growth, emphasizing a desire to move forward and leave divisive issues behind. The PP accuses Pedro Sánchez of reactivating the independence process, claiming that the appeal to the Constitutional Court is a return to square one for the Catalan issue. As the campaign for the Catalan elections intensifies, all parties have already started their campaigns, gearing up for the formal start on April 26.
