By: Enrique Opi Tufet, Senior Adviser on Tourism and Regional Manager of InFluCat.
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After the Junts per Catalunya (‘Junts’) Congress in October 25th, Mr. Carles Puigdemont took the leadership of the political party. Two years after stepping down, Puigdemont returns as party president, succeeding Ms. Laura Borràs, who transitions to a leadership role within FunDem, a foundation aligned with democratic values. His decision to return comes in light of the pivotal role ‘Junts’ plays in Spain’s governance negotiations following recent elections.
Objectives of the new Junts Per Catalunya
Junts` recent organizational overhaul, reinstating Mr. Carles Puigdemont as party president, signals a transformative power shift within the “convergent” faction. Half of its executive team has been reshuffled, aiming to achieve three key objectives:
- To maintain its leverage over Spain’s governance, forcing Pedro Sánchez to make concessions for budget approvals.
- To position itself as the sole alternative to Mr. Salvador Illa’s Socialist-led government in Catalonia.
- To reunify the independence movement under its banner—an echo of Mr. Artur Mas’s 2015 strategy with “Junts pel Sí”, the secessionist coalition that orchestrated the 2017 referendum.
This new leadership structure solidifies Puigdemont’s grip on Junts, positioning the party as a dominant force in Catalonia’s independence movement while intensifying its influence on national politics.
Junts’ leverage in the Spanish Parliament is a cornerstone of its national strategy. By holding the balance of power, the party can continue extracting political and economic concessions from Mr. Pedro Sánchez’s government. The upcoming budget negotiations will test this strategy, as Junts demands nationalist-oriented provisions that extend beyond fiscal matters
By sidelining remnants of the Borràs faction and relegating old-guard CDC pragmatists like Jaume Giró to secondary roles, Puigdemont has consolidated power within a structure that prioritizes loyalty and alignment with his vision. The creation of an executive team that reports directly to him ensures minimal internal dissent and streamlines decision-making.
Key figures in this alignment
- Ms. Mònica Sales, Vice President, a prominent voice in the Catalan Parliament, is appointed vice president, symbolizing the party’s focus on leadership renewal.
Members of the Broader Executive Committee
- Mr. Joan Canadell (Enterprise and Labor).
- Mr. Xavier Vinyals (Internationalization).
- Ms. Assumpta Cros (Culture), further enrich the leadership pool.
This team reflects a deliberate balance between veteran politicians and emerging leaders, aligned with Puigdemont’s vision of a dynamic, inclusive, and strategically independent Junts per Catalunya.
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