44-year-old Raül Romeva says "commitment" to Catalan state "collectively undertaken" for Sep 27 election · Independents given prominent spots in pro-independence list supported by civil society groups, CDC and ERC parties · Pro-independence camp seeks to start legal process towards full independence in election aftermath, Spanish government rejects move
Independents linked to pro-independence civil society organizations will lead an electoral alliance seeking to declare Catalan secession from Spain in the aftermath of an upcoming Catalan parliamentary election due for September 27th this year. Catalonia's two main pro-independence parties Democratic Convergence (CDC) and Republican Left (ERC) will join the alliance, after party senior leaders reached an agreement on Monday.
44-year-old former MEP Raül Romeva will lead the unity list in the Barcelona constituency, where most Catalan MPs are elected. Romeva is a former member of ecosocialist ICV party -which will not join the alliance itself-, and has been partnering with pro-indy civil society groups for some months now. On Twitter, Romeva has posted a message that reads: "We collectively undertake the commitment. Together to win. Sep 27".
Number 2 of the list will be filled by pro-independence civil society group Catalan National Assembly (ANC) former leader Carme Forcadell. Number 3 will go to pro-independence Òmnium association current president Muriel Casals.
Romeva's choice is seen as a way to highlight the social dimension of the unity list and the pro-independence process, as a counter to CDC's traditional centre-right stances.
The following spots will go to CDC leader and Catalan president Artur Mas (number 4) and ERC leader and head of opposition Oriol Junqueras (number 5).
Unity alliance leaders in the constituencies of Girona, Tarragona and Lleida will be independents too.
First CDC-ERC coalition ever
This is the first time ever CDC and ERC will run under a joint list, alongside representatives of civil society groups and possibly other minor parties, such as christian democrat Democrats of Catalonia (DC) and social democrat Left Movement (MES).
CDC last month split from old partners UDC over their stance on Catalan independence, CDC seeking full independence and UDC preferring to reach an agreement on enlarged self-government within Spain. Shortly after, UDC pro-independence members in turn split from the party and established DC.
CDC-ERC unity alliance's goal is to achieve a clear victory which allows it to start the process towards Catalan independence. According to plans revealed by Catalan newspaper Ara, within 6 to 8 months after the election Catalonia would achieve de facto independence via a "legal desconnection" from Spain. CDC and ERC had agreed in March to set an 18-month roadmap to full independence.
The plan will most likely be implemented unilaterally, as the Spanish government has vowed not to accept Catalan independence.
Another pro-independence list to run separately
Besides CDC and ERC, democratic socialist CUP will run its own pro-independence list for the Sep 27 election. Hopes in the pro-independence camp are placed in the fact that CDC-ERC unity list plus CUP list reach at least 68 MPs in Catalonia's 135-member Parliament.
Analysts believe the pro-independence absolute majority will be on a knife's edge.
According to an Òmnium poll released last week, both lists could jointly get 62 MPs, six short of the figure needed. But if the two lists ran as a single one, then they could expect to win 75 MPs, seven more than needed.
CDC, ERC, CUP, DC and MES currently hold 66 seats in the Catalan Parliament.
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