The candidacy led by the former CEO of DKV, Josep Santacreuhas been imposed on the elections to the Chamber of Commerceor from Barcelona. Participation continues to be a pending issue with 2.80% of voters (13,731) and a total of 21,409 votes (some voters can vote in more than one section), according to data provided by Albert Castellanos, president of the central electoral board and secretary of Competitivitat i Empresa. The final proclamation of the results will be before October 2 and the new plenary session must be constituted before November 15.
Santacreu was the candidate to preside over the Chamber under the motto ‘Va d’Empresa’which to its 46 candidates for as many titles, added the endorsement of five other independent proposals, such as Banc Sabadell, Marta Gento (representing pharmacists), Layetana Hotel Promotion, Online Gymin which Gerard Esteva is or Saba.
In total he would have 31 of the 52 seats in play, 26 from his platform and another five independent ones who showed their support. And to these we could add the six represented by employers. Foment and Pimec. In addition to these 52 places by universal suffrage, the plenary session has two reserved for companies that are willing to pay to have them, which for now remain vacant; and six that are divided in halves by the employers’ associations, making it a total of 60 members. ‘Va d’Empresa’ assumes, in this way, the absolute majority and In this way, he snatches control of the Chamber from the independence movement.
The rival candidacy, ‘Eines de País-Un pas més’, has presented 51 candidates for the 52 members and has obtained 21. Until these elections, this group of pro-independence companies promoted by the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) were those who managed the entity with Monica Roca as president, after winning four years ago with 32 members. After learning the results, Roca showed her intention to seek support to retain the presidency. There is “no majority for either of the two candidates” and now a negotiation process is underway, she told Europa Press.
Participation has always been a challenge in these elections and it has not been possible to reach even 3% of the census. In the 2019 elections, in which the secessionist candidacy won, barely 4% of the total voted, but it was double that of the previous elections (2%). In total, the census is more than 490,000 voters representing companies and the self-employed. The renewal process affects the 13 Catalan chambers, but only in Barcelona and in Terrassa (all the sections) and Manresa (20 of the 27 sections) have there been votes.
In total, they attended the elections to the Chamber of Barcelona 108 candidates. The cartel headed by Santacreu, which ran through the Fundació Privada Pro-Disminuïts Psíquics Finestrelles, had candidates for 46 of the 52 seats at stake and has won 26. Among those who have achieved a place are Energy Factor (Emili Rousaud, who is also one of the vice presidents of Pimec), La Farga Yourcoppersolutions (Guixà family), Ficosa, Ametller House, Comsa (Miarnau family), Colonial or Saba. It is also included in the candidacy Olivier Contel, President of Elite Taxi, who has also obtained a place in the plenary session. Five other candidates who presented themselves independently supported or endorsed Santacreu’s candidacy and in this candidacy they are counted as within his “perimeter.” Is about Bon Preu, Marta Gento (representing pharmacists), Layetana Hotel Promotion, Bank Sabadell and Online Gymwhich includes Gerard Esteva, president of the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia (Ufec).
For its part, ‘Eines de País-Un pas més’ had 51 candidates for a total of 52 members. It has achieved 21. Unlike its main competitor, this candidacy did not anticipate who would occupy the presidency if it won, although it was speculated that Mònica Roca, who has presented herself for Isardsat, could revalidate the position; Or she could be the current vice president, Toni Fito (Pere Quart, SL). Both have obtained a place. The Junts deputy and former president of the entity in the first years of his mandate that is now ending, Joan Canadellwho competed for Ictineu Submarins, has not achieved it.
Within this platform there are politicians, like Canadell himself; or former politicians, such as Joan Puigcercós, former leader of ERC, who is running for Planes 2000, and who has obtained a place; as well as the cook Ada Parellada (Semproniana), through the company BCN Rossellón; either Ernest Pérez Mas (Parlem). Neither of these last two has achieved a seat in the plenary session. This proposal was presented as openly secessionist and promoted by the ANC.
In addition, there were six other candidates who were free and who did not express support for any of the two major candidates and who have not achieved a place. This is the bacon maker and president of Barcelona Comerç Prosper Puig; Camping Campalans, Kreedit Innova, Nuclio Digital School, Micfootball and Igloo Hotel Management.
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In the six seats of the employers’ associations in the plenary session, unlike what happened in 2019, on this occasion Foment and Pimec They agreed to divide their six seats in halves and they will be as follows: on the part of Foment, Anna CornadoCEO of Copisa; Ignasi Marullmanaging partner of PWC and Eloi Plans, executive president of Fluidra. And on behalf of Pimec, the lawyer Emma Gumbert; Martina Fontcorporate director of Font Packaging Group and Michael Martí, president and CEO of Moventia.
Foment, chaired by Josep Sánchez Llibre, did not publicly express a preference for any candidate. Neither did Pimec, although it has partners who are both in ‘Va d’Empresa’ -Factorenergía, La Farga, Fico Cables (Ficosa), up to 39-; such as ‘Eines de País-Un pas més’ (Mútua Manresana or Balneario Termas Victoria, up to 9- and some who are running for election as independents, such as Bon Preu, Promotion Hotelera Layetana or Kreedit Innova. There are also others in ‘ It goes from ‘companies’ that are members of the Femcat lobby, such as Saba, Constructora de Calaf or Ficosa; from ‘Eines de País’, such as Parlem; or some independent ones, such as Bon Preu, that have not achieved a position.