The Zone Electoral Boards (JEZ) have forced some thirty municipalities from various parts of the country to remove pro-independence symbols from buildings and public spaces as a result of complaints from the Impulso Ciudadano platform. The entity affirms that it has filed complaints of this style with a hundred towns and cities in the Catalan territory and trusts that the electoral referee will also agree with them.
Apart from the thirty municipalities, a complaint was also filed against the Lleida Provincial Council, which displayed a pro-independence flag on one of the facades. In addition, the Provincial Electoral Board of Lleida amends the plan in the Balaguer Zone Electoral Board in seven municipalities and also forces them to remove banners, yellow ribbons and banners.
The Granollers Regional Electoral Board ordered the “immediate withdrawal” of signs in Sant Feliu de Codines and Cardedeu, both in Vallès Oriental, “during the electoral campaign, day of reflection and day of voting”.
The electoral arbitrator considers in the resolution that this symbology is “incompatible” with the neutrality debate in accordance with the Organic Law of the Electoral Regime (Loreg) and the agreements of the Central Electoral Board, given that it can be “considered partisan”.
They are arguments similar to those of the Cervera JEZ in the municipalities of Anglesola (Urgell), Guissona, Sanaüja and Cervera (all three in Segarra), where the removal of pro-independence symbols has also been mandatory, just like those of the JEZ of Balaguer, which forces the removal of stars, yellow ribbons and banners in the municipal buildings of Agramunt (Urgell).
Instead, the JEZ de Balaguer considered that it was not necessary to remove symbols in Albesa, Menàrguens, Balaguer, Sant Llorenç de Montgai, Bellcaire d’Urgell, Artesa de Segre (all in the region of Noguera) and Castellserà (Urgell). This decision was appealed by Impulso Ciudadano in the Provincial Electoral Board (JEP) of Lleida, which revoked the agreement of the JEZ and urged it to require the competent authority to remove the “prohibited propaganda”.
The JEP of Lleida, considered that a graffiti on the wall referring to 1-O in Bellcaire de Urgell did not violate the Loreg because the appellant had not proven that he was in a building or public space.
The complaints of Impulso Ciudadano have also prospered in Via de Seròs (Segrià), in Guixers (Solsonès), in Nou de Berguedà, Puig-reig, Olvan, Berga and Avià (the five in Berguedà), in the Plan del Penedès and Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues (both in Alt Penedès), in Ripoll, in Cassà de la Selva (Selva), in Verges (Baix Empordà) and in Sant Julià de Vilatorta, Roda de Ter, Tona and Manlleu (the four in Osona) .
