The former CiU minister Germà Gordó, leader of Convergents, states in "ARA" that "the agreements of Junts with Convergents and various political platforms bring together practically all the convergent space for the municipal elections of 2027". At the same time, he points out that although "Junts is the cornerstone of this space", "the completeness of this world needs Convergents and other political platforms, as Demòcrates incorporated at the time". In turn, the mayor of Alpicat and organizational secretary of Impulsem Lleida, Joan Gilart, asserts that there is "a vision of the country for the municipal elections" and that "the convergent space has a future, from the center, common sense"; but "now the sum of efforts is needed to regain the leadership of the country".
The competition between PSC and Junts to fish convergents in the municipal elections
Numerous local officials receive offers to be part of the lists
BarcelonaJunts has an ambitious operation underway for the upcoming municipal elections: regrouping the space of Convergence. However, it has encountered a competitor because the PSC is also moving to fish among the ex-convergence ranks. At the moment, there are conversations and understandings are being finalized to dispute a legacy, the convergent one, which has revived since the unearthing of Jordi Pujol's figure.
"The PSC is also knocking on the door. It doesn't stop," said the Junts general secretary, Jordi Turull, a few weeks ago at a press breakfast, addressing the socialist Joaquín Fernández. "When he told me he was coming here, I told him I was happy because at least I wouldn't tell one of ours if they leave [with the PSC]," Turull added. Not only Aliança Catalana is trying to scratch in the orbit of Junts, but the socialists are also very interested. In fact, recruitments began some time ago: the Government incorporated former convergence leader David Bonvehí, as Director of Social Economy, and brought back former Junts minister Miquel Sàmper to the executive.
The paradigmatic example of the tug-of-war between parties is Enlairem Deltebre. The formation that governs the Ebre locality with an absolute majority with Mayor Lluís Soler presented itself in coalition with Junts in the last elections, but for the upcoming ones it is receiving offers from Junts and the socialists, as ARA has been able to learn. The party will decide at the last minute and the only desire is to maintain its independence in the municipal spirit.
In Mollerussa, Mayor Marc Solsona (Ara Pacte Local - PDECat) will not run for re-election, but in his locality and its surroundings, the candidacy is receiving approaches from both Junts and the PSC to prevent them from running alone. Thus, he points out that the mayors and councilors linked to the defunct PDECat are talking "to everyone," although he highlights "the novelty" that Junts and socialists are going after them, when three years ago no one wanted to know anything about them.
Battery of polls
The councilor and leader of Ara Pacte Local in the Salou City Council, Marc Montagut, who governs with PSC-Sumem and ERC in the council led by Pere Granados, also confirms that "both Junts and the PSC" have sounded him out for next year's municipal elections. His group has two councilors and is considered "convergent", but Junts is outside the council and the decision has not been made. On the other hand, numerous sources maintain that an agreement is being worked on between the PSC and the mayor of Aitona, Rosa Pujol, who is also vice-president of the Diputació de Lleida – through the 2023 pact with the socialists and ERC. Pujol clarifies that "there is no agreement with anyone" at the moment and refuses to comment on the state of the talks.
There are also approaches in Lleida. The capital of Segrià is particularly sensitive: Activem Lleida - Ara Pacte Local, by Domènec Vila, narrowly missed entering the council, with 2,258 votes (4.77%) and particularly affected Junts. The interest it sparks in "various parties" has led to questions about the future, but Vila comments that they have not decided whether to integrate into any party. The PSC and Junts have shown interest, but for now, they have not made any decisions and have not received any specific "offer".
Multiple approaches between Ara Pacte Local and the PSC in various municipalities, such as Sant Boi or Esparreguera, and even Sant Cugat, cannot be ignored either. In the case of Sant Boi, the leader of PDECat, Jaume Icart, is "in talks" with the PSC for "socio-convergence" to bear fruit. He obtained 500 key votes that would have allowed Junts to get a councilor, but the rift between parties was deep and now he could be part of the list of mayor Lluïsa Moret. The leadership of Aliança Catalana also sounded out Icart's project, but they flatly refused it.
The socialists are also accelerating in Cerdanya, where Junts has had setbacks and where the former mayor of Puigcerdà, Albert Piñeira, is the Government delegate in Perpignan. Jordi Palomino is a non-attached councilor, but he ran for Junts, and is one of those desired by a sector of former convergents who are approaching the PSC. In contrast, in Girona, former councilor Carles Ribas – he obtained 1,600 votes, 4.6% of the key votes with PDECat – is in talks with Junts, and Aliança has also wanted to recruit him. The PSC also sounded out the mayor of Òrrius, Xavier Masgrau (Junts), but he refused, and, again, Aliança also contacted him.
Convergent withdrawal
In Tarragona, Junts has also sounded out former CiU councilor Fede Adan to be the mayoral candidate, and the mayor, Rubén Viñuales, already signed up his sister Montse Adan three years ago, who is now deputy mayor. Furthermore, it was Salvador Illa's executive who signed up Mar Giné, former PDECat candidate in Tarragona, as director of the territorial services of Business and Work in Tarragona for Miquel Sàmper's ministry –former Junts member–. Finally, Aliança also sounded out the non-attached councilor who ran for Junts, Elvira Vidal, who confesses that the PSC also approached her, although socialist sources deny this.
In this competition between Junts and the PSC –where Aliança sometimes appears–, the PP also makes an appearance, on rare occasions. The mayor of Badalona, the popular Xavier García Albiol, has appointed Àlex Romero –former head of the PDECat list in the city in 2023– as coordinator of the political area against illegal occupation, and the leader of the PP in Barcelona, Daniel Sirera, signed up Tomàs Ragué for lists, who had been linked to Centrem, but was not elected.
Competition means that the convergent regrouping that Junts sought for the municipal elections is not turning out as they would like, but the Junts members have already managed to close numerous agreements with this political space. For example, the mayor of Igualada, Marc Castells, will repeat the formula with which he ran in 2023, Junts per Igualada, with Carles Puigdemont's party, "with the freedom to pact with whomever they wish" after the elections. The move is added to Junts' agreements with Impulsem Penedès and Impulsem Lleida –re-edited–, Convergents, Tots per Lloret, Futur per Puigcerdà, Treballem per Solsona, and other approaches to figures from the defunct PDECat with the brand Ara Pacte Local.
the defunct PDECat with the brand Ara Pacte Local.
In any case, the members of Ara Pacte Local have great independence from each municipality, and sources familiar with the matter estimate that "75% will run as independents" and more than "10% with the PSC and Junts", respectively.
