Oriol Junqueras and Marta Rovira’s “More republicanism, more freedom” candidacy receives the support of 87% of the members in an election with a turnout of 50.2%
The candidacy for the 29th National Congress of Esquerra Republicana, “More republicanism, more freedom” headed by party President Oriol Junqueras and Secretary General Marta Rovira, received the support of 87% of the votes cast by the members on election day, 6 November, with a turnout of 50.2%, similar to the elections for the previous Congress in 2019 with 57.2%. Specifically, 4,309 militants voted, 3,747 in favour of the Junqueras, Rovira, Aragonès and Vilalta candidacy, while 562 voted blank.
“We are back to consolidate the growth and leadership of Esquerra Republicana; we are back to be more and to be stronger, steering the same course: a Catalan Republic with everyone and for everyone,” said Oriol Junqueras once the results were known. Marta Rovira added that “we reaffirm our commitment to bring people together to become a plural and transversal independence movement, to be a beneficial, well-managed government, anchored throughout the territory and consolidating growth in the metropolitan areas, to secure democratic warranties and international complicity to advance in the resolution of the political conflict.”
With the new National Executive, also led by the President of the Catalan Generalitat government Pere Aragonès as National Coordinator of Esquerra Republicana, and Marta Vilalta as Deputy Secretary General and spokeswoman, Esquerra adapts its organisation to the new political reality, in a context in which the party has greater institutional presence than ever and must continue to seek greater authority so as to become the people’s most useful instrument. In this regard, the internal coordination area will be bolstered, greater weight given to international action, reinforcing the channels for interrelation with the members, and enhancing cooperation with the social environment and civic movements.
This is to be done by combining experience and consolidated leadership with the renewal necessary to adapt to the present. Adriana Delgado (Open Party, and now also Social Movements) and Eloi Hernàndez (Institutional Coordination) join the executive for the first time as Deputy Secretaries General, with Raquel Sans (Feminism and LGBTI Rights), Lluís Salvadó (Internal Coordination), Marta Vilaret (Rights, Freedoms and Anti-Repressive Struggle), Raül Romeva (Prospection, Agenda 2030, and now also Ecological Transition and Sports), Sara Bailac (Political and Sectoral Action) and Marc Colomer (Communication and Strategy); while Jordi Roig has been promoted from Party Manager and Secretary to Deputy Secretary General for Resources, Finance and Management and Jordi Solé from Secretary to Deputy Secretary General for International Relations.
Other fledgeling Secretaries are Kènia Domènech, as newly created Secretary for Membership to grow the party with active, diverse and committed members, participating in decision-making; Marta Molina for Social Movements, another novelty, with the aim of collaborating more closely with social organisations and agents; Pau Morales for Organization; Marta Rosique for Knowledge and Global Justice, also a new Secretary funtion to implement successful models of research, research and science; and Enric Marin for Education and Culture. Meanwhile Eva Baró for Knowledge Management, Oriol López for Municipal Mobilization and Coordination, placing more emphasis on the mobilization of elected municipal officials, Alba Camps for Municipal Policy and Transversal Projects, Laia Cañigueral for Supramunicipal Policy Coordination, Jordi Castellana for Sectoral Coordination and Economic Policy, Chakir el Homrani for Labour Policy, incorporating Security, and Agnès Rotger for Social Rights, Citizenship, and now including Housing, are old hands.
President of the Generalitat and Esquerra Republicana’s National Coordinator Pere Aragonès explained that “we are working to gain presence everywhere in order to be useful to everyone and to promote social, green, feminist and democratic transformations. And as we grow, we must keep adapting the organization to change.” Mr Aragonès also affirmed that “we want to continue strengthening the best instrument at the service of the whole country and all its people, wherever they come from, however they think and whatever language they speak, consolidating good government and improving the capacity of the party to connect with society’s organized fabric, especially at this moment of socio-economic complexity we are experiencing.”
“At the same time, we are facing the challenge of taking the long view and setting horizons for the future, of being the engine of thought and debate today to build the model of country we want in the future,” pointed out Deputy Secretary General and spokesperson Marta Vilalta. “Esquerra Republicana can do that best, because we have the people’s mandate through the ballot, we have the country in our minds and in our hearts, and the ability to lead the country to the Catalan Republic of the opportunities we long for,” she noted.
Renewal of the National Council
The National Council has also been renewed with the election of 15 women and 15 men to the Council. Among the most voted were Joan Tardà i Coma, Josep-Maria Jové i Lladó, Marta Rovira i Martínez, Josep Huguet i Biosca, Eduard López i Domènech, Anna Caula i Paretas, Maite Aymerich i Boltà, Marta Cid i Pañella, Santi Valls i Molina, and Teresa Vallverdú i Albornà, among others.
The Junqueras-Rovira candidacy also stakes on Josep-Maria Jové’s return to preside the National Council, which will be convened at the end of this month.
The vote, which was also electronic, was the first stage in an internal process that will culminate at the plenary that the party plans to hold in early 2023 in order to review the organization’s strategic manifesto.