Turull sponsors the candidacy of Junts with the former ERC candidate in Sabadell

SabadellIn the fifth most populated city in Catalonia, Junts has faced difficulties in recent years. Long gone are the five councilors in Sabadell that it had from the CiU era, when it led the opposition: currently it only has two and, moreover, they have been expelled from the formation for disobeying and confronting the opinion of the Junts assembly in the city. In fact, de facto, there is currently no Junts representation in Sabadell. This Tuesday, however, the agreement –worked on for months– for a joint candidacy between several parties led by Junts and headed by the former ERC leader in the city, Gabriel Fernàndez, has been signed. And, under the name Acció per Sabadell, it has been formally sponsored by the Junts general secretary, Jordi Turull.

The pact between Junts, Fernàndez, the local party Identitat Sabadellenca –led by former PDECat candidate Amadeu Papiol– and MEScat has been applauded by Turull and the head of municipal policy, Joan Ramon Casals. "President Puigdemont was immediately enthusiastic about the idea," stated Turull. In fact, regarding the coexistence of different ideological sensibilities, he commented that "Gabriel is a left-wing person," but that he has "never" seen "so much enthusiasm among the convergents since the candidacy of Raül Romeva," who came from Iniciativa and led Junts pel Sí in 2015. In this regard, they have highlighted "unity" and "agreement" between tendencies as a pillar of the new era.

Lluís Matas and Katia Botta, who are the expelled Junts councilors, wanted to continue the government agreement with the PSC of Mayor Marta Farrés, but the membership broke it criticizing the "following" of the councilors and they had to leave it reluctantly. The two of them contradicted decisions made by the local assembly and ended up expelled after a long internal struggle. Already out of the party, they criticize Fernàndez and the new Junts venture. The leader of Identitat Sabadellenca, Amadeu Papiol, referred to the councilors: "Some representatives confused loyalty with blindly following any proposal," he lamented.

Like Junts pel Sí?

This agreement, which Turull has expressed confidence will extend to other municipalities, has been viewed within Junts and Fernàndez's movement as something similar to Junts pel Sí: "The happiest stage of my life was that of Junts pel Sí," emphasized the Secretary General. "The slogan is Together we are stronger, it is the closest to Junts pel Sí", added Fernàndez. But, of course, neither ERC nor the CUP are there, who have dismissed the idea.

In Turull's case, he has claimed "a solid alternative" for the city "at a time with so much sectarian politics and promotion of hatred." At the same time, he praised Fernàndez's "courage," because he has put "deep personal convictions ahead of following party rhetoric," even resigning from ERC. He opposed the Catalan government pact with the PSC and Oriol Junqueras's leadership, and had supported Foc Nou's unilateralist reformist line.

With a defense of "national commitment," Fernàndez also warned that it is necessary to "be prepared" for a future independence challenge, and "this preparation begins in the town halls." Regarding differences, he admitted that "they exist," but that they want to use them to reinforce "transversality"; however, in city matters, "agreement" will prevail in a program they are working on. In extramunicipal or insurmountable matters, there will be freedom of vote, as Turull recalled there is in Junts for matters of conscience such as euthanasia. It will be necessary to see how the program is specified in matters such as security, illegal occupations, or the B-40.

Of the list, Fernàndez will be number one, and two and three will be elected by Junts, which will occupy 40% of the first fifteen places. For their part, Gent per Sabadell (Fernàndez's new organization) will have 30%. The remaining 30% will be for the localist Identitat Sabadellenca and MEScat Independentistes d'Esquerres, which collaborates hand in hand with Junts at the national level with deputies in Parliament such as Agustí Colomines and Ennatu Domingo.