The intention of ERC in Vic is to repeat the cases of Sant Cugat del Vallès and Figueres. In these two cities since the restoration of democracy, CiU governed most of the years. In 2019, Junts was the first force in both, but two left-wing alliances allowed the Republicans to take over the mayoralty. For those led by Oriol Junqueras, repeating the experience in Vic would mean dealing a heavy blow to the post-convergents. That it spread to other towns such as Olot, Igualada, Reus, Banyoles, Vilafranca del Penedès or Ripoll -in all of them ERC is the second force after Junts- would amplify it.
"For more than 40 years we have seen the same political color in some cities and until ERC has capitalized on the drive for change, the governments in different town halls have not been modified", Pere Aragonès pointed out in an act in Vic. The president He has given examples, although some of them have not necessarily been Junts strongholds: “If we did it in Lleida, Tarragona, Manresa or Sant Feliu de Llobregat we will do it in Vic (…). Let them have a pack of Republican votes, ”he added.
Thus, this Friday, the main circuit of the ERC campaign has stopped in Vic. María Balasch is the mayor for ERC in the city. She wants to follow that example and aspires to prevent the post-convergents from repeating themselves in the mayoralty -with Albert Castells- through a left-wing alliance that could well count on Vic en Comú. Who knows if also with the collaboration of the PSC. “We want this city to have the change it deserves. The moment is now”, the deputy general secretary of the Republicans, Marta Vilalta, stated at Vic's campaign event. Also Marta Rovira, number two of Esquerra, and Pere Aragonès have insisted on this idea.
ERC and the CUP aim to cut space for Junts, in terms of the number of councilors. The arrival on the scene of the former CiU councilor, Xavier Farrés, with the new candidacy Ara Vic –formed by the convergent heirs PDECat and Centrem- could subtract votes from JxCat.
Of the fifteen cities that Esquerra travels in its main campaign circuit, Vic is the only one that is the absolute domain of JxCat, and from 1979 to 2019, of CiU. Mayor Anna Erra has been so in the name of both acronyms, but she is not running for re-election. His is one of the names that sounds the most to replace Laura Borràs in the presidency of Parliament. With Oriol Junqueras as leader, ERC went from fifth place in the capital of Osona in the 2011 elections, to second in 2015. There it has stayed, with Junts setting the pace even with an absolute majority in 2019 in a city of 48,000 population.
Part of the leading role of the event in Vic this Friday has undoubtedly been for Marta Rovira, number two of ERC. The Republican has recalled that more than five years ago she left her city to settle in Switzerland and has ruled out, despite the repeal of the crime of sedition, her return to Spain in the short term. “It will take a little longer to return. My stay in Geneva is unfortunately extended, because there is a new cause that is being cooked in the National Court for the Democratic Tsunami (…). My name appears in the cause, and I will not rush before I know what I am accused of ”, has stated.
Aragonès thanked Rovira for his work from Geneva. He has considered that without the work of the general secretary of his party "many of the international resolutions that we know of would not have been passed." The last one, that of the UN Human Rights Committee, this Thursday, which has considered that Carles Puigdemont's political rights were violated in 2018.
Despite the absolute majority of Erra, Balasch has boasted of achievements, such as the creation of l'Escola de Segones Oportunitatss, the heliport of the General Hospital, the plan for solar installations in six buildings in Vic or the adaptation of Botànic Micó street. It has also detailed an infinity of proposals, including creating "climate shelters" by increasing the number of trees on the streets, the application of the accessibility plan for vocational training, the redefinition of the Camprodon ring road and guaranteeing safety and rapid access for emergency vehicles. In addition, if she is a mayor, she has promised a new municipal market that would share space with the recycled products market, the municipalization of the Club Patí Vic facilities or the increase in urban guards and civic agents, in addition to the creation of a third CAP and the remodeling of the other two.
