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| Ciutadans – Partido de la Ciudadanía | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ciutadans – Partido de la Ciudadanía |
| Native name | Ciutadans – Partido de la Ciudadanía |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Albert Rivera, Núria de Gispert |
| Leader | Inés Arrimadas |
| Headquarters | Barcelona |
| Ideology | Liberalism (21st century), Centrism (political), Constitutionalism |
| Position | Centre to centre-right |
| National | Ciudadanos–Party of the Citizenry (Spain) |
| Europarl | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party |
| Country | Spain |
Ciutadans – Partido de la Ciudadanía is a political party founded in Barcelona in 2006 as a response to regional debates in Catalonia and developed into a national force within Spain's political landscape, competing with parties such as People's Party (Spain), Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, and Vox (political party). The party rose to prominence through leaders like Albert Rivera and Inés Arrimadas, contesting elections for bodies including the Parliament of Catalonia, the Congress of Deputies (Spain), and the European Parliament. It positioned itself amid contemporaries such as Podemos (Spanish political party), Ciudadanos (Spanish political party), and Union, Progress and Democracy while affiliating internationally with groups like the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party.
The party originated from civic initiatives linked to figures such as Manuel Valls supporters and civic platforms reacting to events like the 2006 Catalan Statute of Autonomy debate and the 2010 Constitutional Court of Spain ruling on the 2006 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia. Early activists included academics and municipal personalities associated with Barcelona City Council, Societat Civil Catalana, and movements around cultural institutions like Òmnium Cultural and ANC (Catalan independence movement). After initial municipal results, the party achieved breakthrough representation in the Parliament of Catalonia in the 2012 regional election and expanded nationally ahead of the 2015 Spanish general election, overtaking established formations such as Convergence and Union and challenging New Canaries. Its trajectory was shaped by leadership changes from Albert Rivera to Inés Arrimadas and by electoral crises tied to events like the 2017 Catalan independence referendum and negotiations in the 2016–17 Spanish government formation.
The party defined itself through commitments to Spanish Constitution of 1978, opposing the Catalan independence referendum, 2017 and advocating for Spanish unity alongside parties like People's Party (Spain), though it also adopted positions close to centrist formations including Union, Progress and Democracy and Democratic Union of Catalonia in some debates. Its platform blended elements of Liberalism (21st century), support for European Union membership and alignment with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, and stances on civil rights comparable to calls from Amnesty International and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights. Economically it favored market reforms similar to proposals from Ciudadanos (Spanish political party) allies and fiscal policies debated in the Congress of Deputies (Spain), while socially it positioned itself between the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and People's Party (Spain).
Organizationally the party developed structures for municipal, regional, and national contests, holding internal primaries akin to practices in Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and People's Party (Spain), and engaging think tanks comparable to FAES and Fundación Alternativas. Notable leaders included Albert Rivera, Inés Arrimadas, and politicians elected to institutions such as the Parliament of Catalonia, Basque Parliament, Parliament of Galicia, the Congress of Deputies (Spain), and the European Parliament. The party's regional chapters interacted with municipal councils like Barcelona City Council, provincial deputations such as the Diputació de Barcelona, and university communities including University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Barcelona. Internal controversies over direction led to defections and alignments with figures from Citizens' Movement and local coalitions like Centristes de Catalunya.
Electoral milestones included entry into the Parliament of Catalonia in 2012, significant gains in the 2015 Spanish general election and 2016 repeat election, and representation in the European Parliament alongside delegations from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party. The party's vote shares fluctuated relative to competitors such as Podemos (Spanish political party), Vox (political party), and People's Party (Spain), with peaks around 2015–2017 and declines after leadership transitions and the rise of new national actors like Más País. Regional results varied across territories including Madrid, Valencia, Andalusia, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands, reflecting local dynamics involving parties like Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and Convergence and Union.
Policy proposals emphasized defense of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, reforms in institutions such as the General Courts (Spain), and approaches to the 2017 Catalan independence referendum similar to judicial paths pursued in the Supreme Court of Spain. The platform advocated for measures in labor markets debated in the Congress of Deputies (Spain), fiscal policies interacting with Ministry of Finance (Spain), and public administration reforms echoed in proposals by European Commission policy debates. On European issues it supported integration policies discussed in the European Parliament and Council of the European Union, aligning with liberal groups around topics like digital markets and competition regulated by the European Commission. Social policy stances addressed rights topics that intersected with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights and initiatives by UN Human Rights Council.
Critics from parties such as Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, Podemos (Spanish political party), and Vox (political party) accused the party of opportunism during coalition talks like the 2016–17 Spanish government formation and of shifting positions similar to disputes seen in Convergence and Union realignments; civil society organizations including Òmnium Cultural and ANC (Catalan independence movement) clashed with the party over the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. Media coverage by outlets such as El País, La Vanguardia, El Mundo, and broadcasters like TV3 and RTVE highlighted controversies over campaign financing and candidate selections, and academic commentators from institutions like University of Barcelona and Carlos III University of Madrid debated its ideological coherence.
Internationally the party connected with liberal networks including the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, engaged with delegations at the European Parliament, and participated in dialogues involving actors like Liberty Global and delegations from parties such as Liberal Democrats (UK), Democratic Party (Italy), and FDP (Germany). It engaged in bilateral contacts with regional entities including representatives from Catalonia abroad and Spanish diplomatic interlocutors at missions related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain) and participated in forums alongside organizations like European Council on Foreign Relations.
Category:Political parties in Catalonia Category:Political parties established in 2006