Together for Catalonia

Together for Catalonia. Junts per Catalunya (Junts) is a major pro-independence political party in Catalonia, Spain. It was formed in 2017 as an electoral coalition centered around the then-president Carles Puigdemont and later evolved into a standalone party. The organization has been a dominant force in Catalan politics, advocating for the region's secession from Spain and playing a central role in the political turmoil following the 2017 Catalan independence referendum.

History and formation

The party originated as an electoral list for the 2017 Catalan regional election, created by then-President of the Generalitat Carles Puigdemont following his dismissal by the Spanish government under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution. This intervention was triggered by the unauthorized 2017 Catalan independence referendum and the subsequent symbolic declaration of independence by the Parliament of Catalonia. Initially a coalition including the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) and independent figures, it formally constituted itself as a separate political party in 2020 after a split from PDeCAT. Key founding members included prominent politicians like Jordi Sànchez and Laura Borràs. Its formation marked a significant realignment within the Catalan independence movement, creating a new pole distinct from the historically dominant Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC).

Ideology and political positions

The party's core ideology is centered on achieving the independence of Catalonia from the Kingdom of Spain, framing it as a matter of democratic will and national self-determination. It combines this with a Big tent approach, incorporating both liberal and conservative tendencies, and advocates for a unilateral pathway to statehood if necessary. Its platform often emphasizes civil rights, European Union integration for an independent Catalonia, and opposition to Spanish judicial actions it deems repressive. The party positions itself as a defender of Catalan language and culture, while its economic policies generally favor market-oriented approaches within a framework of social cohesion.

Electoral performance

The coalition first contested the 2017 Catalan regional election, winning 34 seats and becoming the second-largest force in the Parliament of Catalonia, though it was surpassed in votes by Citizens. In the February 2021 Catalan regional election, as a formal party, it secured 32 seats. It performed strongly in the 2023 local elections, gaining control of key municipalities like Barcelona through its candidate Xavier Trias. In the July 2023 Spanish general election, it won 7 seats in the Congress of Deputies, holding a crucial balance-of-power position that influenced the investiture of Pedro Sánchez. Its electoral strongholds are often in regions like Girona and rural parts of Catalonia.

Leadership and organization

The party is led by its founder, former president Carles Puigdemont, who has directed its strategy from exile in Belgium and later France following the issuance of a European arrest warrant against him. Other key figures have included former parliamentary speaker Laura Borràs, who was suspended from office following a corruption conviction, and general secretary Jordi Turull. The party's structure is highly centralized around its presidential figure, with a national executive committee overseeing regional councils. It maintains a youth wing, Joventut Nacionalista de Catalunya, and has established foundational institutes like the Council for the Republic to promote its cause internationally.

Legal challenges and controversies

The party and its leadership have been embroiled in significant legal proceedings stemming from the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. Multiple senior members, including Oriol Junqueras of its former coalition partner, have faced trials in the Spanish Supreme Court for charges like sedition and misuse of public funds, under the oversight of judges like Pablo Llarena. Former president Carles Puigdemont remains a fugitive from Spanish justice, though he was granted immunity as a Member of the European Parliament until its revocation. Internal controversies have included corruption cases against Laura Borràs and tensions with coalition partners in the Catalan government over the strategy for independence.

Category:Political parties in Catalonia Category:Catalan independence movement Category:Political parties established in 2017