The ghost of the split makes its way into Junts with the consultation on the Government

Part of the uncertainty that hangs over the Government of the Generalitat will clear up this afternoon when the vote of the Junts per Catalunya militancy ends to decide whether or not the formation continues in the coalition Executive with Esquerra.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
06 October 2022 Thursday 23:30
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The ghost of the split makes its way into Junts with the consultation on the Government

Part of the uncertainty that hangs over the Government of the Generalitat will clear up this afternoon when the vote of the Junts per Catalunya militancy ends to decide whether or not the formation continues in the coalition Executive with Esquerra. The affiliates have been voting since yesterday and the party leadership will meet when the polls close – telematics – to analyze how the scenario looks.

With this internal process, the recurring description of the party with two souls –although the more pragmatic sectors have gained positions in the apparatus– has gained strength again, although the image is not entirely accurate and there are families that coincide circumstantially. Be that as it may, it has become more than clear that there is a division of opinions on what the strategy is, although some leaders and political representatives have opted for caution and prudence, and have avoided making a statement, such as the Secretary General, Jordi Turull. Perhaps thinking about the day after.

For days there has been a buzz in some groups regarding possible internal fractures depending on what happens, especially if the militancy ends up validating the permanence in the Government headed by Pere Aragonès. The rupture is not a desired scenario, but it falls within the range of what is possible. Sources from various sectors had admitted this option to this medium, but yesterday it was the deputy Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas who verbalized it in public for the first time on his media tour, which included a debate in RAC1 with the former general secretary of JxCat, Jordi Sànchez. The leader, close to Laura Borràs and in favor of leaving the Consell Executiu, did not rule out splits and ventured that if they do not come now, they will materialize later. “If it turns out that we are still in the Government, we will have the crisis in two or three months,” he predicted.

In his speeches, he also opened the door for Junts to agree in the future with the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) on a joint list – the pro-independence entity plans to attend the next Parliamentary elections with what they call a “civic list”– . “Junts is a national liberation movement. We all have a place, ”he argued.

In addition, the deputy stressed that JxCat has to choose between being "the Scottish National Party (SNP) or the PDECat 2.0" in this consultation, and referred to the possible departure of its formation from Palau as the "jolt" that the independence movement needs .

Every vote counts and, as if it were a typical election, Jaume Giró addressed the media yesterday after issuing a “yes”. He warned that it is "impossible" to achieve independence from outside the Catalan Executive and pointed out that there is no risk of a split. The Minister of Economy and Finance has led the campaign for the permanence together with the head of Acció Exterior i Govern Obert, Victòria Alsina, who does not have the right to vote because she has just joined, and other ministers such as Lourdes Ciuró (Justícia) and Violant Cervera (Drets Socials).

The truth is that beyond the wild outings that there may be –many doubt that at the moment of truth there will be, no matter what–, consulted sources point to another relevant aspect. In what position will those who have defended one option or another remain if the opposite is given? Will they still be able to be on the front line?

As much as Carles Puigdemont, former president of the Generalitat and former president of Junts, assures that the "internal debate" within the party "reinforces democracy in general", a message widely shared by members of JxCat, training sources regret the divisions that this consultation has evidenced and that there is no one thinking in the medium and long term, about how the cadres are going to unite before the municipal ones.

Voting started at midnight from Wednesday to Thursday. Both at that first moment, and yesterday at eight in the morning, there were some technical problems that were solved shortly after. By noon, 22.60% of the 6,465 registered militants had already participated –in percentage almost the same as in the last global vote of militancy–. In the afternoon, the mobilization already doubled the previous figure with 53.65%, above the participation registered in all internal processes this year.

The pact that Jordi Sànchez and Pere Aragonès sealed in May 2021 was endorsed by 83% of the militancy. It is the one that has mobilized the bases the most. So, 62% of the 6,528 who then had the right to vote got wet. The pact obtained 3,364 supports and garnered 689 votes against.

With high figures in the mobilization of associates, the stage remains open. A low participation was considered in the pools that would favor the continuity of the coalition, but in this matter nothing is certain, and yesterday Junts abstained in the Parliament in a CUP motion that did not prosper and asked Aragonès to submit to a matter of trust.

Parallel to the consultation, the territorial leaders of the national training council are also elected. It is the highest decision-making body of the party between congresses. It so happens that in the internal processes that have taken place since June to renew the local leadership of the party and in the primaries for next year's elections, the Turull candidates have taken the lead in a prominent way.