Orriols already plays golf with the elite

BarcelonaSilvia Orriols has made her debut on the golf course. She now has her handicap after being granted access to an area restricted to a select few. More than 200 business owners and executives took the opportunity to network at the end of Saturday's session. green ofThe Terraverda Hotel in Gualta, owned by the company Emesa, chaired by the person who convened the meeting, lawyer Emili Cuatrecasas. The fact is that a segment of the business community has decided to lift the cordon sanitaire in Aliança Catalana

In any case, more well-known and representative figures from the economic and business world, who might have been interested in learning about the Ripoll mayor's project, declined Cuatrecasas' invitation. Marian Puig, former president of Isdin and member of the family that owns Puig Brands, and real estate investment manager Josep Maria Xercavins were among the few familiar faces in the audience, according to some attendees. "There was a fear that attending would be interpreted as explicit support for Orriols," some of those who chose not to go stated. Others felt it inappropriate to contribute to "whitewashing" Aliança's xenophobic rhetoric. Rumors suggest that calls were made before the meeting to avoid "too well-known" attendees who would have given the meeting even more prominence.

But the truth is, there was curiosity to hear from the leader of a far-right force that, although still under construction, is enjoying favorable poll numbers. Some even highlighted her "likability" after the meeting. Cuatrecasas, in statements to SER Catalunya a few days before the encounter, in addition to expressing interest in learning about her political platform, emphasized her language: "She speaks beautiful, uncontaminated Catalan."

Before the audience, Orriols focused heavily on the issue of immigration, insisting on the "replacement" thesis and rejecting mass regularizations like the one approved by the Spanish government. It's a discourse that doesn't displease a segment of the Catalan right and some business sectors, although, in general, Employers' associations such as Foment and Pimec support the regularization. due to the need to fill necessary jobs.

One of the moments when she improved her standing with the members of the Empordà club Petit Comité was when she expressed support for lowering taxes and eliminating some, such as inheritance tax, just as Junts advocates. Appealing music to the ears of those present. Many far-right leaders attract the business world with promises of tax cuts. But, at the same time, many get the impression that Aliança still lacks a detailed economic program. That's why some have approached them to help build their program with proposals on social issues, healthcare, and other matters.

Regarding whether it's appropriate to lift the veto on Orriols, some businesspeople recall that not many years ago Vox, which polls predict will achieve very good results and is pushing the PP towards ever-greater radicalism, found itself in a similar situation. Others also point out that the current Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, not so long ago "also spouted nonsense" and is now respected by many of the country's economic elites. Are these sufficient reasons to normalize the discourse of a political force like Alliance? It's a question some are asking, but it's true that there are those who once flirted with a certain closeness to the Process ("What if it succeeds?" they might have wondered), and who are now distancing themselves. The same thing happened with the now-defunct Citizens party. The elites, who never want to relinquish their position, never miss an opportunity to maintain or enhance their advantage.