Alfons López Tena: the independentist who denounces the "farce" of the Procés

BarcelonaAlthough she had been one of its drivers, the Process caught Solidaritat off guard. In 2012, the party that had made a name for itself two years earlier by proclaiming itself heir to the popular consultations, failed to enter Parliament. Alfons López Tena (Sagunt, 1957) was its candidate. This notary, son of a notary, who spent seven years (2001-2008) on the CGPJ at the proposal of CiU, continued to be active in the movement until 2015, waiting to see where Catalan independence was heading. But in 2014, with the 9-N consultation, he became clear. In conversation with ARA, he explains how what happened from then on convinced him that it was all "a farce." In fact, on that very day, together with a group of people, they began to popularize the concept of "processism": that movement that claims to yearn for independence but, in reality, never wants it to arrive. Distant from "processist" parties, he has accumulated criticism, for example, for participating in a Societat Civil Catalana symposium in 2018 ("I went there to defend my thesis on authoritarian populisms that I also detect in the Process") or for saying in 2023 that he would vote for the PSOE to prevent the far-right from coming to power in Spain.

Without economic urgencies, already retired and with no intention of returning to institutional politics, López Tena has dedicated the last ten years to political reflection, publishing some articles in international media. His concern is precisely authoritarian populisms, starting with that of India and its president Narendra Modi, and continuing with Trump, Netanyahu, or Orbán. He also sees traits of authoritarian populism in the parties that have led the Process. And now, above all, in Aliança Catalana, a party he believes must be combatted. He predicts that the probable victory of the PP and Vox in the State will open a stage of "resistance" in Catalonia.