Ricard Farin: "The debate is whether in ERC we are useful or we continue immersed in the constant internal battle"

BarcelonaRicard Farin (Barcelona, 1995) is a candidate to lead the republican federation in Barcelona with the Activem Barcelona candidacy, the list considered to be from the establishment.

One of his banners is to end internal battles. How is this done?

— The recipe is what we have made for our candidacy. We have spoken with everyone, regardless of their labels, of what they voted for in previous congresses, to make a broad candidacy that wants to work so that Esquerra is once again useful in the city.

Is that what differentiates them from the other candidacy?

— This is one. We also incorporate a federation advisory council, which we want to promote counting on everyone, with expertise, with previous organic positions and former elected officials. So that we don't suffer the same mistakes again and to project the future. Another difference is that we are clear that Esquerra Barcelona is much more than a simple political party. We want to win hegemony, and this is done with one foot on the street and one foot in institutions. The territorial presence of the organization must be strengthened, with community centers at the center of all political decisions. We want to forge stable alliances with organized civil society that wants our Barcelona, with dignified housing, where we can speak our language, and a capital that works for the social and national emancipation of the Catalan Countries.

Does he feel comfortable with the label of officialist?

— I understand that labels are the way to simplify it, but that is not the debate. The debate for Esquerra Barcelona is whether we are useful and transformative, regardless of labels, or if we remain immersed in constant sterile and internal bickering. We must differentiate between disagreement and confrontation.

What relationship should there be between the federation and the municipal group?

— We cannot treat colleagues who are in the municipal group as if they were outsiders to the organization. It makes no sense to want to use the federation to confront each other. The militancy is who decides the political positioning. The federation is the umbrella that sets the course. It cannot be accepted to use the federation as a counter-power, nor as a throwing weapon against colleagues.

What relationship should the federation have with the national leadership?

— It makes no sense to make the Barcelona federation a counter-power to anything. The federation has power in itself, because we are the main federation. The party recognizes us power spaces within national decisions, we are members of the permanent and the national executive, and this must be exercised with the same responsibility.

They have doubled the other candidacy in endorsements, is it a symptom of what could happen on Friday?

— It is important and I want to thank the overwhelming support we have had with the endorsements. This does not mean that anything has been won.

In the next municipal elections, should Esquerra form a government with Jaume Collboni?

— First we have to win. We have to activate the organization and ensure that Esquerra Barcelona is once again useful to this city. We are the alternative to the PSC. The pacts in Barcelona must be shared with the militancy.

Who should lead the negotiation?

— The agreements will be voted on by the organization and we will work on them with the membership. We are committed to a model in which the membership is an active agent. The membership cannot only participate when the decision is made and say yes or no.

In the congress two years ago that was eventually postponed, were you in favour of entering Jaume Collboni's government at that time?

— At that moment it was not, due to the context, above all. Esquerra Barcelona has the potential to offer the city an alternative model to the PSC.

Would you like to be part of Elisenda Alamany's candidacy?

— I have no interest in being a councilor. I am running to lead the federation of Esquerra Barcelona, to set the course of this organization.