Ismael Peña-López: "Polling stations will be safer than what we all do on a daily basis is"

Ismael Peña-López is the director of electoral processes of the Generalitat and, therefore, one of the main people in charge of organizing the elections. His last month, with the increase in covid cases and the frustrated elections postponement, has been dizzying.

Are the 14-F elections safe?

— They are very safe, because we have been working for many months and we have managed to minimise the risk of what will happen inside polling stations both for voters and for the people who will be counting votes.

Could there be problems in setting up polling stations?

— There is a risk to the extent that people who have to be part of them are afraid. Personally, I don't think this fear is well-founded, because we have greatly reinforced the arrangements. Polling stations will have many more security devices than practically everything we do throughout the day in our daily lives.

Would the Electoral Board have to exempt members of a polling station who fear for their health?

— Absolutely. We've asked them again and we're hoping that with the worsening of the surge we'll be able to get these people out. We are in talks with the electoral boards so that they accept a documentation that would come from the Generalitat as an additional justification to exclude people at risk.

Do you think that the JEC (the electoral commission for elections in Spain) will facilitate it?

— It is difficult to say, but, except in very specific matters, in general we have understood each other very well. They are not the bad guys, far from it. They have been very responsive so far.

Is it guaranteed that all members of the polling stations will be tested for antigens?

— It is guaranteed. We're just finishing up to see what the logistics allow us to do. The Health Department will be in charge of the details. It depends on what professionals we have available that day, at a time when everything is very tense.

Will it be mandatory?

— We are considering it. It has pros and cons. Making it compulsory by decree for public health reasons would help us to reinforce security, but we have the problem of what happens to the person who refuses it. It's not a minor issue, forcing people into such sensitive issues.

Does the Generalitat aspire to a certain threshold of participation?

— I don't think we are capable of numbering it. Anything below Catalonia's historical average [of voter turnout], which is a little over sixty percent, would be worrying.

The Government wanted to postpone the elections to 30 May, but says it is safe to vote on 14 February. Is it compatible?

— I think so. We're telling people not to leave their homes, but now we're saying that it's OK to go and vote in the elections. That is not true. Having said that, what we can say is that we have taken extreme protective measures inside polling stations.

Do you have doubts about the legitimacy of the elections?

— If we all believe in it, we will make it work. It's like money. The problem with money is not printing it, it's that we all believe that this paper is worth 50 euros and that in exchange you get a coat. It's the same thing. The system is very well organised and now what we have to do is provide guarantees so that people believe in it.

What did you think when JxCat said that electronic voting was possible for 30 May?

— It wasn't just JxCat. We have spoken with all the parties face to face and we have explained the reasons [of why it was not possible to implement it now]. I attribute it to the nerves of the moment of postponing the elections. Fortunately there have been no further temptations.

Did you understand the High Court's arguments for not accepting the postponement and leaving the date up in the air?

— Closing the election halfway through as was done, risking 25 million euros [from the electoral budget] and leaving five and a half million people not knowing whether they will vote, is a very hard situation to go through. I think it wouldn't cost much to be more governmental and give a clear deadline: either 14 February - or 30 May.

Would you understand if the High Court said that the vote would finally take place in May?

— My head will tell me well done. My heart will say: "What the hell, now?" We will have polished off many people's salaries, we will have spent 25 million euros that won't come back.

Has it crossed your mind to throw it all away and say "I've had enough"?

— Of course it has. There comes a time when you can't go on any longer because the tension is huge, but I don't think it's the right time to abandon the ship. There is a lack of hands and we all have to roll up our sleeves.