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The possible resignation of the ‘expresident’ to the leadership of JxCat would unleash a battle for internal power and would open the question of what consequences it would have on the bases of the party and the pro-independence electorate
What would be of Together for Catalonia If its leader, referent, electoral poster and ideologue left the presidency of this formation born only a year and a half ago? “It will hurt”, sums up a person linked to the project. “It will be a Cainite war to see who’s boss,” ditch another.
Puigdemont’s impact on a new project created in his image and likeness is evident. There are not a few who openly admit that they would not have taken the step if it were not for the power of their leadership, which drags many faithful beyond the initials. The proof that the ‘expresident’ is a powerful asset is that he won the pro-independence electoral duel to Oriol Junqueras (ERC) with a candidacy forged against the clock in 2017, which did without a large part of the leaders of the old CDC; what did he achieve one million votes in the 2019 European Championships and which again topped (this time symbolically) the Junts list last year, in which Laura Borràs there was only one seat below ERC.
The Call, the Council …
Under the leadership of Puigdemont the National Call for the Republic, which in a few weeks managed to exceed 50,000 associates, although it was disbanded two years later. And now the Council for the Republic, who also leads the ‘expresident’, already has more than 102,000 members. Other milestones are the massive meeting of Puigdemont in Perpignan in February 2020 before more than 100,000 people (double according to the organization).
The internal analysis is that without his presidency, no muscle will be lost because Puigdemont will not break the card, he will continue to be at the disposal of the Junts and, in addition, he relies on an arrival of support from the PDECat municipalism. Likewise, in the next European elections, in 2024, if the ‘expresident’ wants to keep his seat, he will have to appear under the umbrella … of Junts.
The possible successors
On the other hand, various leaders consulted admit that without the ‘expresident’ the previously underground war for power in the party would come to the fore. Junts is a project with different leaderships: the general secretary, Jordi SànchezIt has a certain internal response; the electoral candidate and now president of the Parliament, Laura Borràs, maintains a high profile in the media and does not renounce anything; and those who were prisoners of the ‘procés’, especially Jordi Turull Y Josep Rull, ‘exconsellers’ of convergent origin, have what is called a certain “troop”, that is to say, bases that support them.
Turull denies he is competing with Jordi Sànchez for power, but enjoys great popularity. Not in vain, the march in which he traveled a good part of Catalonia after obtaining the pardon achieved great support from independentistas.
The covered ones
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Other figures on which a great unknown would be marked are those of the current vice president of the Government, Jordi Puigneró. Initially, he was the one anointed by Puigdemont to be a candidate. Along with all these names, that of the ‘Minister’ of Economy emerges strongly, a Jaume Giró that has managed to approve budgets in a timely manner, has exhibited political waistline and a great balance between possibilism and secessionist militancy.
Names aside, the question is: Without Puigdemont, what will be the roadmap of a formation in which the most radical unilateralists to lifelong pragmatists coexist?
Reference-www.elperiodico.com