The Catalan PP also copies the far-right on immigration

BarcelonaThe People's Party of Catalonia is also approaching the far-right and hardening its discourse on immigration. The national PP has done so in recent months, and now the Catalan Populars are reproducing it in their political paper, which the party must approve at its 16th congress on June 27 – it is the text that will mark the strategic line of the party in the coming years. Under the premise that "those who come to commit crimes must know that they have no place in our society," the Populars demand "the immediate and effective execution of expulsion orders for any foreigner in an irregular situation who commits a crime," thus focusing on the fight against repeat offending.

The document differentiates the arrival of Hispanic-American immigration – which it considers of "natural" integration due to historical, cultural, and linguistic ties – from the threat of "Islamist fundamentalism" – which they consider "incompatible with the fundamental principles of a free society." In this regard, the party calls for prohibiting the use of the burqa and niqab in public spaces to protect "the dignity of women and effective equality," and proposes tightening border controls to eradicate "aberrant practices such as forced marriages or genital mutilation" and, at the same time, "prevent the departure of minors at risk." "Under no circumstances can traditions or customs from countries of origin be tolerated to justify crimes classified in our Penal Code," the paper states.

Likewise, the text delves into the regulatory management of this phenomenon and warns that "uncontrolled immigration and evident chaos in the management of some public services strain coexistence and deteriorate the quality of life." For this reason, the Populars argue that any "responsible" migratory policy in this matter must be calculated strictly based on the " real reception capacity of society." Although the party is open to profiles of Hispanic origin, it emphasizes that the requirement to integrate "with the same equality before the law" must be applied absolutely to any foreign citizen. 

"Integration requires rights, but also duties," says the document, which closes the door to legal shortcuts by stating that irregular immigration "cannot become an alternative route to access residence." Finally, when addressing religious security, the PP asks to "clearly distinguish the immense majority of fully integrated Muslims" from those who profess "a totalitarian political ideology," and demands secure borders against those who "confuse welcome with impunity."

Security and "refounding" the Generalitat

Beyond immigration, the PP's report establishes order and security as indispensable pillars to guarantee freedom. In this regard, it makes a fierce defense of private property and demands legal reforms to make "express evictions possible within a maximum of 24 hours." The text denounces the "impunity" of squatting and repeat offenses, and calls for tougher penalties and unwavering support for police forces, lamenting that officers suffer the "discrediting of their own rulers."

To achieve "prosperity," the party calls to "democratically refound" the Generalitat to close more than two "lost decades." The document harshly criticizes nationalism, accusing it of having "subordinated institutions and the real needs of citizens to a project of division, legal uncertainty, and decline." However, it also directly attacks socialism, pointing to it as responsible for bringing "more interventionism and more bureaucracy." In fact, the PP accuses the left of using a tactic to "fuel different conflicts: tenants against landlords, the public sector against the private, men against women."

As an alternative, the Popular Party demands banishing movements like "wokism," advocates for a drastic tax reduction, and calls for strengthening the State's presence in Catalonia to prevent its "weakening" from leaving "millions of Catalans unprotected."