Pro-independence ERC recruits from non-aligned left-wing party

Two former MPs of Barcelona mayor's Catalunya en Comú expected to be part of Oriol Junqueras' ticket for upcoming elections

 

Joan Josep Nuet during a press conference at ERC's headquarters in Barcelona, on March 18, 2019 (by Guillem Roset)
Joan Josep Nuet during a press conference at ERC's headquarters in Barcelona, on March 18, 2019 (by Guillem Roset) / Guifré Jordan

Guifré Jordan | Barcelona

March 18, 2019 04:36 PM

The pro-independence ERC party has been calling on the pro-independence movement to "expand" its base of supporters as part of its main strategy ever since the declaration of independence and the imposition of direct rule.

The party of jailed former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras believes more people have to join the movement for it to move forward, and in the upcoming elections, they seem to be trying to include this philosophy in the candidacies.

Joan Josep Nuet, until now MP for the Catalunya en Comú party, non-aligned in the independence issue, will be ERC's number four candidate for the Barcelona constituency in the April 28 Spanish election. On Monday he gave up his seat in parliament.

Meanwhile, talks are underway between the pro-independence party and Elisenda Alamany, also a former Catalunya en Comú MP, for her to stand for ERC in the Barcelona local election. So far she has not given up her seat in the chamber.

Both Nuet and Alamany are the main officials for a platform called 'Sobiranistes,' set up last October within Catalunya en Comú to call on the party leadership to defend Catalan “sovereignty” and to change certain internal dynamics.