Santa Coloma de Gramenet This Friday has been the epicenter of the Catalan campaign for the 23-J elections. After the kick-off this Thursday in Barcelona, PSC and Comuns have summoned their militancy in this municipality at the same time – seven in the evening – and at a distance of a few minutes walking. There they have appealed to the metropolitan voters and the working classes to prevent a government of PP and Vox, although each party has claimed it in its own way. The PSC has presented itself as the useful vote, while the Comuns, as the only ones capable of putting “pressure” so that the Socialists do not look to the right.
The choice of the two parties for Santa Coloma is not trivial. He last May 28, the socialist Nuria Parlon he managed to revalidate his third absolute majority, with three more councilors than necessary, although he fell slightly in votes. And despite not needing it, he signed a pact with the two councilors of Citizens to form an even stronger government. With this broad electoral support, Parlon has hosted the rally that has been held in the Singuerlín neighborhood and has had interventions by the candidate Meritxell Batet and the first secretary of the party, Salvador Illa.
From there, the Socialists have presented the elections as a battle between Pedro Sanchez and Alberto Nuñez Feijóo, and warning that “unfortunately there are no third ways”, they have asked for the “useful vote” for their party. In addition, Batet has criticized the popular candidate, whom he has accused of not having a project for Catalonia and has stated that he cannot govern Spain because he “does not understand Catalonia”.
The Commons and retirement
Less than a kilometer away, very close to the town hall that governs the PSC, is where the candidacy of Add-In Comú Podem He has celebrated his act. On March 28, they lost the three councilors they had in the municipality, but here the formation usually reaps good results in the general elections. In 2019 they were the second force with around 20% of the votes, but they came to win in 2015 and 2016 with 30% support.
Taking advantage of this physical closeness to the Socialists, Vidal has launched a very critical message against his partners for considering extending the retirement age and has warned them that Sumar will “never” allow it. Also the number two of the candidacy, Gerardo Pisarellohas shot at the PSOE and has hung the medal of having “transformed the Socialist Party”, recalling that in 2019 Pedro Sánchez wanted to agree with Ciudadanos, and also giving Parlon’s pact with the mayors of Cs as an example.
Rufián, against the PSOE
farther it’s been Gabriel Ruffian, the third in discord. Specifically in Palamós, more than 100 kilometers away from Santa Coloma, the ERC candidate has shot at the Socialists, with whom they precisely share government in this Baix Empordà municipality. Facing the sea, Rufián has presented himself as the “enemy” of the extreme right and has warned voters that they are “wrong” if they think that voting for a party “whose Felipe González is one of the main leaders and ideologues” They will defend Catalonia.
The Republicans presented Rufián as a candidate in Santa Coloma to dispute the metropolitan vote with the Socialists and Comuns. However the expected ‘ruffian effect’ did not give the results expected. ERC managed to add one more councilor -going from 3 to 4 and positioning itself as the second force-, but failed to scratch a single seat from Parlon.
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Precisely, both socialists and Comuns have taken the opportunity to shoot at Esquerra. Salvador Illa has assured that it is not time to “block” or “put a price” on a possible investiture of Pedro Sánchez, while the Comuns have directly accused them of “irresponsible”. In addition, they have described their criticism of Sumar as “electoralism”. “The adversary is not Yolanda Díaz, is called Vox and the PP. We cannot be wrong”, Vidal has reproached them.
Junts attacks ERC
For their part, the post-convergents, from La Garriga, have charged against the strategy of the Republicans, assuring that “Catalonia is worse today than it was four years ago.” The head of the formation list, Miriam Noguerashas accused the Catalans and the general secretary of having “failed” them, Jordi Turullhas affirmed that Rufián “acts as ‘podemita'”.