Eight out of ten town halls do not have the Spanish flag on their facades, according to a pro-Spanish organization.

Barcelona80.5% of Catalan town halls lack the Spanish flag on their facades, according to the pro-Spanish organization Impulso Ciudadano. Of the 947 Catalan municipalities, 763 do not display the state flag, and only 184 do (19.5%). This is evident from the report released this Monday by the organization, which is working to ensure compliance with the flag law. This percentage represents a two-point increase compared to 2022, when 170 (17.9%) displayed the Spanish flag.

"The fact that there are more town halls governed by the PSC than by Junts and ERC compared to 2019 has been noticeable," José Domingo, the president of the pro-Spanish organization, stated in a press conference. "We have improved, but the result is very disappointing because the majority of town halls do not comply with current regulations," added the association's head. In any case, Domingo emphasized that most large cities comply with the regulations, while only four, with more than 50,000 inhabitants, do not. These are Tarragona, Granollers, Vilanova i la Geltrú, governed by the PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), and Manresa, led by the ERC (Republican Left).

The display of pro-independence symbols in town halls, such as yellow ribbons or banners for political prisoners and exiles or for self-determination, has also decreased: from 197 in 2022, there are now only 62, according to the report. There are also fewer Esteladas (flags of the Spanish flag) on ​​town hall facades, and from 119 in 2022, they are now only flying in 97. "It has decreased in all districts, except Barcelona, ​​​​due to the pro-independence strongholds of Osona and Berguedà," Domingo explained.

Impulso Ciudadano denounces "the inaction" of the Spanish government's Delegation in enforcing the flag law. "Since Pedro Sánchez came to power in the Spanish government in 2018, not a single request has been filed, despite the 526 complaints we have filed," Domingo denounced. "If there's an irregularity, it must be corrected," he stated after criticizing both the Spanish president and his counterpart in Catalonia for "failing to comply with the Constitution."

Verges, the latest town hall to be reported

Faced with the Spanish government's inaction, the organization has not sat idly by and continues to file complaints against local councils that refuse to display the Spanish flag on their facades. The latest complaint was filed against the Verges City Council, governed by the CUP (Party of the Unity of the People's Party). The City Council has filed an appeal with the High Court of Justice of Catalonia and, for the time being, continues to ignore the court ruling, but is aware that it has everything to lose.

"We've lost," Mayor Diana Canals admitted in a conversation with ARA, noting that the fine falls on her, beyond the possible disqualification she faces, as already happened to the CUP mayor of Berga, Montserrat Venturós. Canals criticizes the imposition in a municipality where only the three pro-independence forces are represented and when no residents have complained. The mayor makes it clear that they are already considering how to express their opposition: "We can play with the size and material or put up a banner saying we're doing it out of legal imperative."

An offensive that doesn't only affect the pro-independence parties. Impulso has succeeded in having the Spanish flag flown for the first time in the Centelles Town Hall, where the PSC governs. In 44 towns where the Socialists rule, the Spanish flag is not present.

By party, the majority of the town councils governed by pro-independence parties lack the Spanish flag. 302 of the 332 Junts councils, 293 of the 311 ERC councils, the 17 municipalities governed by the CUP (Coup d'Or), and 10 of the 13 PDECat councils. In the five municipalities governed by the Comuns (Comuns), on the other hand, the Spanish flag is prominently displayed on the town hall facade. Paradoxically, the PP does not fly it in all of the five municipalities where it governs: in Monistrol de Montserrat, the Spanish flag is absent.

There are also seven of the seventeen town councils the association has reported that have not complied with the court ruling. These are Cardedeu, Garriga, Santa Eulalia de Riuprimer, Seva, Cabrils, San Esteban de Palautordera, and Verges, which has been the latest municipality to receive unionist attention. Yes, a dozen towns have done so, including Sant Pol de Mar, Abrera, Collbató, El Papiol, Molinos de Rey, Montblanc, Begues, and Ripoll, where Silvia Orriols refused to play it.