The convergent gene is consolidating in Junts while awaiting Puigdemont's return

BarcelonaJuntos, from its inception, aimed to downplay the Convergència ideology. With the PDeCAT as the direct heir of Convergència and the height of the independence movement, Carles Puigdemont envisioned a party that would be more of a mechanism for uniting pro-independence supporters than an ideological structure for confronting the left-right divide. But this founding objective of the 2017 candidacy has evolved over the years. This is not only due to the demise of the PDeCAT or the political normalization of Jordi Pujol, who had been publicly repudiated by a large part of Catalan society since 2014. The Convergència ideology has been revitalized within the Junts ranks, even penetrating the party leadership, albeit with certain limitations. Discreet meetings have even begun to be organized to emphasize the change of course, which, in fact, already began, especially after the party congress in 2024.

The party is working to have and transmit a "clear" orientation, both in terms of ideology and training, sources explain, as demonstrated by the recent vote on the social shieldThey said they would vote against the anti-eviction measures and, despite the pressure, they did.

It is true that the Convergència model is starting to look distant. It's not the 90s anymore, and Junts maintains its goal of independence, even though there is no functioning majority and none is foreseen in the short term. In any case, several Junts sources consulted by ARA agree that the leadership's objective of "centering the party" towards a "center-right profile" is being achieved, conveying an identity that links with the Convergència trajectory. The figure of Pujol has also been reinstated as a role model – in an operation intensified since 2022 – the members of parliament do not disavow the Convergència governments, and their spokespeople are once again resorting to the same old refrain against the left-wing "tripartite" coalition, adding criticism of the PSC's "Spanish nationalism." As if that weren't enough, the rapprochement with the business world and the incursion into state-owned companies, such as RTVE, Renfe, and the CNMV, has been another key element, seasoned with the decisive influence that Junts has in Congress, even though the party's strategy now involves breaking relations with the PSOE due to its "breaches of agreements."

It is since the change in the national leadership of in October 2024When a figure like Laura Borràs—not at all associated with Convergència—stepped down from the front lines amidst the political collapse of the Borràs faction, this shift within Junts has intensified. The internal work to "become recognizable" and "predictable" has been evident, according to several sources, given that Borràs had defined Junts as a "national liberation movement." Now Junts is once again prioritizing ideological debate, with issues such as tax cuts, the fight against crime and illegal employment, to which the issue of immigration, funding—as in 2010—and infrastructure have been added. The clashes on tax policy with Salvador Illa's government and on housing have served to fuel the Convergència spirit. All this while three ideological currents coexist within the party: a left-wing, a social-democratic, and a liberal one. And with an alliance with the Democrats, which, as Union once did, provides the Christian democratic component. The two former presidents of the Convergència party, Jordi Pujol and Artur Mas, are not members of Junts, but they have already called for votes for Puigdemont.

Nuances

"Junts is not Convergència, but there are many Convergència supporters, like President Puigdemont," a Junts source points out, although they note that the party's base is not exactly the same as Pujol's. They emphasize that they share "social and economic aspects" with Convergència, although CDC had the project of "autonomy and sovereignty," while Junts has evolved "after October 1st." Puigdemont remains the party's leading figure, and no one doubts that he will be the next candidate for President of the Generalitat when amnesty finally allows him to return from exile. But there are also people working long-term, aiming to revive Pujolism without Puigdemont. Sources within the leadership dismiss these movements, indicating that they seek "prominence," entangled in "power struggles." What will Puigdemont do when he returns? Sources within the Junts coalition suggest that it could be a "catalyst for unity" and that it will not be limited to institutional work because it intends to carry out "territorial work." But the past and the future are not interpreted the same way in Junts circles, and there are voices from the municipal Junts world, as well as former Convergència members without party affiliation, who are working to fully resemble Convergència. Whether or not to turn the page on 2017 is one of the points of contention, especially considering a hypothetical future departure of Puigdemont from the front lines. There are voices demanding that planning for the future after his departure begin. It is within this context that the lunches and meetings of several former CDC leaders, with the participation of some local Junts officials, such as those organized by former minister Felip Puig, as this newspaper has confirmed, take place.

In these inner circles, they are exploring "how to redirect the political space," although they admit that they currently lack the necessary strength to achieve this. They are working to "recover a centrist vision and rebuild their strategy," also with "negotiating capacity with the PSC," and to "position themselves as a governing party" and "avoid electoral decline." How? "By addressing real problems" and "not focusing on independence." The municipal elections are one of the objectives they have chosen to "establish their position," especially in Barcelona.

It is here that names like that of former regional minister Jaume Giró are being mentioned, who offered himself to the Junts leadership as a mayoral candidate, according to sources. However, the leadership is preparing the ground for the spokesperson, Josep Rius, to be the candidate, after Artur Mas rejected the leadership's offer. According to a critical source, "credibility" is necessary, and Puigdemont and the protagonists of 2017 "cannot lead a new stage."

Mas's role

Meanwhile, former president Mas has offered to help "unite" the entire Convergència political space around Junts and, according to sources, has also offered his support in raising the party's profile in social, economic, and media spheres. Although Mas holds different political views from Puigdemont, he has made clear his willingness to help mend the political space. However, this also implies "making deals and governing" and maintaining open channels of communication with the PSOE and PP, as well as rebuilding those with ERC.