The tight ERC primaries were won thanks to a spoiled vote.

GironaGirona has historically been a weak spot for Esquerra. It only governed the city during the Second Republic, and since the restoration of democracy, it has only managed to become the second largest force once, in 2015. In fact, in 2011, it was even left without representation in the City Council by a single vote: a spoiled vote containing the party's ballot along with a holy card of Escrivá de Balaguer, founder of Opus Dei, was counted. On Thursday night, this specter returned to haunt the local branch's assembly to choose the next Republican mayoral candidate in the primaries.

Former mayor of Sant Julià de Ramis, Marc Puigtió, who since January has campaigned intensively leading a new brand without the Esquerra logo, the Gironí Movement, narrowly defeated the continuity candidate with the support of the local executive, Adam Manyé, former regional director of Education. A 28-27 vote difference was made possible by a spoiled vote in which, instead of a cross, a member placed a sticker with the Esquerra logo (see photo). Despite Puigtió's declaration as the winner on Thursday, at the end of a "tense" assembly that reached the point of "insults"—according to those present—Adam Manyé announced the following day that he was challenging the results.

The case is now in the hands of the party's Guarantees Committee, which has up to 90 days to make a decision, although sources close to the case estimate a final response will be issued early next week. Speaking to ARA, Manyé stated on Tuesday that they were "working" on the challenge, declining to provide further details. Puigtió, however, explained that it had already been filed on Monday in Barcelona, ​​​​at the national headquarters. "I've already won this," he said, downplaying the challenge, while the round of contacts with entities, companies, and Girona residents continues for the construction of the new citizen platform without the ERC acronym.

Junquerismo vs. NIÑO

The fight over these primaries echoes, in some ways, the one experienced by the party itself, between those close to Oriol Junqueras and critics of the New National Left (NIÑO). Junqueras himself appointed Puigtió to be the next Republican mayoral candidate in Girona after the poor results in the May 2023 elections. Quim Ayats, who currently governs the city alongside Guanyem and Junts, lost half the votes and a councilor. Puigtió thus left the mayoralty in Sant Julià and focused on the new project to gain a "more Girona profile."

The surprise came, however, when in January he presented the Moviment Gironí party and announced that he would be a candidate, whether with the endorsement of ERC or not. Quim Ayats had not yet "stepped aside": it seemed like a challenge to his candidacy. For Puigtió, it was agreed that he would be the mayoral candidate but the current Girona executive, close to NEN, did not confront him. "As a result of his inaction, I presented myself and a pique "I'm healthy," Puigtió explains. "Since September, the situation has been tough because I ran in the primaries against the executive branch." The local ERC branch in Girona has 83 members, and 59 of them voted (there were two blank votes).