The two blocks that underpinned the independence process are still reflected on the map of Catalonia after the regional elections of February 14. But the color gamut has varied on both sides.
The non-secessionist electorate relied heavily on Ciutadans in 2017 and has now largely re-migrated to the socialist fishing ground. From orange to red. In the independence movement, two colors continue to predominate and their presence has been balanced after an electoral call that has given control of the ‘procés’ to ERC for the first time.
In fact, the Republicans last Sunday achieved the double challenge that they had set themselves in these elections: to cut the distance with the PSC in the metropolitan area of Barcelona and with JxCat in the inland regions of Catalonia.
Happiness was not complete because socialists and postconvergents maintain their hegemony in these areas, but Esquerra, on the other hand, became strong in Lleida and in Terres de l’Ebre .
Salvador Illa’s socialists won the elections with almost 50,000 votes more than ERC and more than 80,000 over JxCat, and they are the only party that obtained more support than in 2017 (Vox aside). But it is the first time that the winning formation does not reach 25% of the votes (it remained at 22.7%).
The PSC obtained its best result since 2006 and the 104 municipalities where it was imposed represent more than 60% of the census. The metropolitan area of Barcelona, the coast of Tarragona and the Vall d’Aran were its main fiefdoms, but it faltered again in inland Catalonia. His best record was in La Llagosta (43.9%) and the worst, in Anglesola (2.6%).
The Republican candidate, Pere Aragonès , reaped the second best result of ERC alone in a regional election and tied for seats with the PSC. However, he lost one in three voters compared to the 2017 elections.
He won in 248 towns , a hundred more than three years before, and consolidated his primacy in the south of the country and in Lleida. He also managed to gain ground from the socialists in the metropolitan area and JxCat in Girona and central Catalonia, but without too many ‘surprises’. The highest percentage of voting for Esquerra was in Cervià de les Garrigues (43.2%) and the lowest, in Bossòst (10.1%).