Discontent among Junts mayors: they want a change of direction

Barcelona"We need the leadership to align itself more with us. Sometimes it seems like they're in a different political moment." This statement, from a Junts mayor, sums up the sentiment among local officials about the direction of the party led by Carles Puigdemont and Jordi Turull. The departure of former minister Jaume Giró—who was well-connected in the region—and the downward trend in poll numbers have been the final straws: several local sources express "discomfort," "concern," or "worry" because they believe the party's public discourse doesn't sufficiently reflect its current situation in the municipalities. Some are even considering going to see Puigdemont to explain his position. "It's a cry for help," summarizes one source.

"We don't want Turull or Puigdemont to give in," says one mayor—to make it clear they're not challenging the leadership—but adds that they need their concerns to be heard and for there to be a "change of course." They believe that last year's congress in Calella, where the leadership was endorsed almost unanimously, went very well because it brought order, but they say this needs to be reflected in everyday life.

From the local level, in contact with the head of municipal policy, Joan Ramon Casals, they express the following concerns: that a discourse more connected to the territory is needed, that it cannot be that the party's leaders leave, and that it cannot continue without having a visible head in the Parliament (they demand the appointment of a leader of the opposition).

"The party is running out of important assets," laments a territorial official. An issue – that of the resignations – that has surfaced this Saturday in the national council of Junts in Figueres, where Jordi Turull has accused Podemos of being "anti-Catalanist" for opposing the transfer of immigration powers. According to various sources, the regional leader of Maresme, Carles Bosch, expressed his concern behind closed doors about the departures of Giró and Miquel Buch, as well as the departure of David Saldoni for professional reasons, and the poll results.

This week The World pointed out that Junts could lose up to 11 deputies if there were elections to the Parliament, and remain at 24, while the extreme right of Aliança, which draws mainly from the junteros (but also from other pro-independence parties and even Espanyol), would rise to 14. This is added to CEO surveys which also point to a downward trend for Puigdemont's party. So far, the leadership has played down the data, as did Turull this Saturday: while he lamented the latest departures, he said that the party has new additions that he cannot reveal for data protection reasons, and added that the polls are all kinds of different.

Also at the national council, the mayor of Figueres, Jordi Masquef, in his inauguration speech, also behind closed doors, called for a "return to pragmatism." "Anyone who doesn't come to contribute to our society, who comes to live off the... tale, cannot have a place in our country, and even less so can we maintain foreign multi-offenders with our taxes on Catalan prisons," he stated, adding that when they tell him that his speech resembles that of Aliança, he responds: "Absolutely not. This has been my home for many years because I started to be active in CDC. My speech is based on legality and, despite being tough, it does not discriminate against anyone," demanding not to "fall into complacency" because "they will paint us in the face."

The institutional power of city councils

"The party no longer lives off high politics, but off the municipalities," recalls one of those consulted, emphasizing that all of Junts' institutional power now resides in the city councils. They believe, therefore, that this should be reflected in the narrative: they cite as an example the CDC's journey through the desert, when they were the mayors who sustained the party and a new generation of leaders emerged.

"The mayors are worried about the municipal elections, and the party isn't capable of conveying a clear message," says a regional source. One of the mayors consulted believes that Junts' national discourse lacks answers to citizens' concerns such as housing, security, the situation of the self-employed, or the challenges of immigration.

In this sense, this mayor would like the municipal community to also be involved in the decisions made in Congress, which involve Switzerland and a small core of the permanent committee led by Puigdemont, Turull, and also Míriam Nogueras. Another complaint is the lack of debate or the interpretation of disagreement as an attack. "There are people in the national leadership who were pleased with Giró's departure," notes another local official, as they were one of the critical voices.

Other sources consulted also advocate for reaching a new agreement with everyone, maintaining the goal of independence, from the PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) to the PP (People's Party), if necessary, and even breaking the cordon sanitaire against the Alliance if there is a proposal they consider "positive." "That way, they will stop playing the victim," says one of those consulted.

Several local sources also regret that there is still no candidate for Barcelona. The party has tried unsuccessfully to convince former minister Joaquim Forn (and some leaders have also suggested former president Artur Mas), while councilors Josep Rius and Jordi Martí hope to be elected, as does former minister Josep Maria Argimon. Some are even considering Giró, although he has announced his withdrawal from the front line.

Regarding leadership, they emphasize that they are not asking anyone to leave, but that there should be preparation for a replacement. Aware of the "democratic grievance" that Puigdemont's situation implies, these mayors believe it is necessary to envision an alternative to President Salvador Illa in the Catalan Parliament. In this regard, they point to MP Salvador Vergés, who has acted as a liaison with the municipal world this term.

And, in relation to the Catalan chamber, they are also suspicious of the left-wing sector led by Agustí Colomines, who this week attacked Mas on X. Regarding the rise of the far right, he said: "He should start to do some deep reflection on whether he [Artur Mas] did not contribute to what is called a 'middle class.'" This tweet, according to several sources, caused several Junts chats in favor of Artur Mas to boil over with criticism.