Party Review – PSC: “Pro-independence process goes nowhere”
The Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) obtained 7 MPs in the last Spanish Elections, half of what they obtained in 2011. Although their partner in Spain, the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) was the second force in the 350-seat Spanish Parliament, PSC suffered a huge decline in Catalonia, mainly due to its refusal to hold a referendum on independence and also because it is regarded as a party from the ‘establishment’ in comparison to new forces such as Spanish Unionist ‘Ciutadans’ and Alternative Left ‘Podemos’. To try to reverse this negative trend, PSC decided to change its lead candidate for the upcoming Spanish Elections, to be held on the 26th of June. Former Spanish Minister for Defence, Carme Chacón, was replaced by Meritxell Batet, who has insisted on reforming the Spanish Constitution in order to solve the political problem between Catalonia and Spain.
Barcelona (CNA).- In the last Spanish Elections, held on the 20th of December 2015, the Catalan Socialist Party came in fourth position in Catalonia, obtaining 7 MPs in the 350-seat Spanish Parliament, half of what they obtained in 2011. The Catalan Socialist Party’s decline is mainly due to its refusal to hold a referendum on independence in Catalonia and also because it is regarded as party from the ‘establishment’ in comparison to new forces such as Spanish Unionist ‘Ciutadans’ and Alternative Left ‘Podemos’. “We recognise that there is a political problem with the fitting of Catalonia and Spain”, stated Meritxell Batet, PSC’s lead candidate for the Spanish Elections, the replacement for former Spanish Minister for Defence, Carme Chacón, who topped the list in 2015. In an article published by CNA’s blog, ‘Catalan Views’ Batet insisted that the “pro-independence process goes nowhere”.
PSC bid to reform the Spanish Constitution in order to improve Catalonia’s fitting within Spain and respond to some of its demands, especially those regarding its funding system. “This reform should be based on federalist principles in order to guarantee the singularity of Catalonia, clarify its competences, make clear the funding model and reform the Senate into a real territorial Chamber”, stated Batet.
Furthermore, the Catalan Socialists see themselves as “the only ones” who can “provide a positive project for our country based on stability, experience and progressive solutions”. “The only thing anyone is talking about is a process which goes nowhere, which we know goes nowhere”, warned Batet at one of PSC’s meetings. “The only starting point, the only point of arrival and the only meeting point where we will all end up is reforming the Spanish Constitution based on federalist principles”
Despite denying the celebration of a referendum in Catalonia, PSC admit that “Catalonia and Spain urgently need a change and a new political agreement” and that this “political problem” requires “a political solution”.
PSC’s decline
The Catalan Socialists obtained 7 MPs in the last Spanish Elections, half of what they obtained in 2011. Although their partner in Spain PSOE was the second force in the 350-seat Spanish Parliament, PSC suffered a huge decline in Catalonia.
PSC’s influence in Catalonia started to decline in 2010, after 7 years leading the Catalan government. From that moment onwards, the traditional Socialists’ voters opted for Spanish Unionist ‘Ciutadans’ and those who believed that the PSC was nothing but a PSOE branch office without any sensitivity for Catalonia’s right to decide turned toward pro-independence forces. After the 27-S elections, the Socialists are the third force in the Catalan Parliament with 11 MPs in the 135-seat chamber.