Only 1.8% of Catalans consider that the most important factor in deciding their vote is the electoral program, according to the Catalunya 2024 pre-election survey by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) published on April 25, just before the start of the election. Catalan electoral campaign, in which almost six million Catalans are called to vote next Sunday, May 12.
However, 1.8% of six million are 108,000 people. If you are one of them or you simply want to know the electoral programs of the main parties that are presented in these elections to exercise an informed vote, you can consult them here.
The program with which it is presented to the 12-M elections is based on management, on “eating things,” they point out in the party. With special attention to peremptory concerns, such as drought, for which Illa promises to approve an omnibus decree with investments worth 3.5 billion.
But there is also special concern about health, education, security, housing and infrastructure, areas in which the PSC candidate believes that the Government of Pere Aragonès has especially faltered. Their campaign motto, Strength to govern, shows the aspiration to have sufficient support to not remain halfway to the Generalitat, as in 2021. The socialists aspire to overcome the barrier of 40 seats (they now have 33) and that the pro-independence parties do not reach the absolute majority.
ERC presents itself to the Parliamentary elections on May 12 with three red program lines, which in the end Aragonès himself assures will mark future alliances: moving towards achieving a self-determination referendum, achieving its own financing for Catalonia with the Generalitat collecting all taxes and improving the state of well-being of citizens.
Republicans have also proposed that the schooling stage from 0 to 3 years be completely free. The Government of this last year already set it for the I-2. Another proposal is the creation of a linguistic policy department dedicated to promoting and defending the Catalan language.
Junts was criticized from the rival trenches at its inception, after the express and telematic foundation in the summer of 2020, that it was a party without a clear ideology and some of its candidates, with the intention of being a catch-all party as well as the party itself. Articulation with three currents – a liberal, a social democratic and a leftist – fueled that story. But at the congress held by the party in Argelers and l’Hospitalet de Llobregat in 2022, it began to become clear that this was not the case, and that the convergent legacy was more present than it seemed at first glance. The party, in its electoral program, advocates strengthening the area of ??security, the achievement of more powers and promises to review all the taxes paid by Catalans in the first 100 days of government.
The party’s economic roadmap includes the elimination of some taxes such as inheritance, lowering the lowest income tax bracket, rethinking the economic activities tax and eliminating the wealth tax. It is also advocated to negotiate an economic agreement with Madrid, like the one in Euskadi, so that all taxes paid in Catalonia are collected by the Generalitat and that the fiscal deficit is reduced, which the formation estimates at 20,000 million euros annually. and stimuli are also planned for the economic and business world. In this sense, another of the party’s great demands is to reduce procedures and bureaucracy so that the administration supports those who undertake and there is talk, in fact, of a refoundation of the administration.
It is also requested to govern key infrastructures of Catalonia such as the port and the airport as well as the expansion of the capacity of this infrastructure. The Catalan language, very present at the party’s rallies, also plays a key role and the party demands the transfer of powers regarding immigration, an aspect that is already being negotiated with the PSOE, to guarantee that the integration of the newly arrived is in Catalan. The formation also ensures that in the first 100 days if they are in charge of the Generalitat they will present the draft law for the Police system of Catalonia and affirms that it will guarantee the generational change in the Mossos d’Esquadra and promises more infrastructure to face the drought, among other aspects.
The far-right party is running for election with the aim of not losing the eleven seats it obtained in the last elections. Under the motto “In self-defense,” Vox bases its electoral program on citizen security and “stopping” the independence movement.
Regarding security, Vox blames immigration for the insecurity in the streets, which is why it proposes “expelling all illegal immigrants” as well as “legal immigrants who commit serious crimes or make minor crimes their way of life.” .
Regarding the independence movement, Ignacio Garriga’s party proposes “repealing all the totalitarian norms imposed by the Generalitat.” In addition, they assure that they will demand “that the coup plotters pay for their crimes.” In the Vox program he also mentions the defense “of the right to be educated in Spanish” and guaranteeing “linguistic freedom” in Catalonia.
At the end of last year, the CUP began a long process of refoundation or redefinition that was expected to culminate in June 2024, but which had to be suspended due to the call for elections to the Parliament for May 12. The anti-capitalists have coined a concept, that of the “new Catalan economy”, under which they include, for example, the need to complete the universal basic income (UBI) that was agreed with ERC in 2021, or create a distribution company and a public energy company. for the citizens. In addition, they have opted for a marked ecological profile.
Social measures are at the center of the CUP program, without forgetting, however, the national axis. The Cuperos are committed “to working to generate the conditions for the Catalan people to self-determine and achieve full political independence.”
The right to housing, the reinforcement of public services such as health and education, an ecological and economic transition that go “hand in hand”, feminism, the improvement of the financing of Catalonia and the defense of Catalan are the most notable points of the Comunes Sumar program for the elections to the Parliament of Catalonia on May 12.
During the campaign, the candidate for the presidency of the Generalitat, Jéssica Albiach, has placed housing as a priority. Beyond the reinforcement of public apartments and the regulation of tourist apartments, one of its star measures in this area is a new tax: taxing the buyer with 30% of the cost of the home as long as they do not purchase the property to reside.
Along with the regulation of mass tourism, the Sumar Commons are also defined by three noes: no to the expansion of the El Prat airport, no to the fourth beltway and no to Hard Rock. In fact, his refusal to accept the macro-casino in Tarragona ended up destroying the budgets of the Generalitat of Catalonia and leading to early elections. Regarding the airport system, they propose strengthening Reus and Girona and connecting them with El Prat with high-speed train, in addition to reducing short-haul flights. The railway is precisely its bet to avoid the development of the fourth belt.
Carlos Carrizosa leads the Ciutadans campaign with which he aspires not to lose representation in the Parliament. His program, which proposes 111 “essential measures for Catalonia”, is based on the rejection of the amnesty law, a massive tax reduction and several proposals for housing.
First of all, they assure that they will demand “that Puigdemont and all the others involved assume their political and criminal responsibilities,” and ask for “a new government” that focuses on “respect for our Constitution.”
They also propose “a massive reduction in taxes”, first of all with a reduction in personal income tax and reversing “the sword” in the Inheritance Tax. In the same section, they assure that they will support “the implementation of the Hard Rock project” as well as the construction of the Northern Roundabout of Vallés (B-40).
The third and final section focuses on housing, education and health. They propose an agreement that “guarantees legal security” for the right to housing and commit to working “on the recovery of the real estate sector.”
The PP is reeling off its electoral program under the name of “Plan for Catalonia” based on ten axes and 350 proposals that it has not yet presented in its entirety.
In economic matters and to reactivate the “business spirit”, they will propose the reduction of the regional section of personal income tax so that Catalans as a whole do not pay more than 40%. They also commit to the elimination of inheritance, gift and estate taxes.
Likewise, they want to incorporate a “training voucher” for those over 45 years of age who are unemployed.
In the field of Administration, the reduction by half of the organizations that depend on the Generalitat is defended, and a discharge of bureaucratic procedures where the “responsible declaration” is encouraged to open a business before the administrative license. They also want to incorporate “positive silence”, that is, the resolution favorable to citizens when there is no response from the Administration.
In the field of security, the incorporation of 570 new Mossos agents is proposed, and the creation of three new units: sexual crimes, multiple recidivism and illegal occupations. The “vacation” of a property within 24 hours is defended.
In the area of ??housing, the construction of 50,000 public homes for young people is proposed. Likewise, there will be tax exemptions for owners who rent to young people. The PP advocates for a “trilingual” education and for the free choice of educational center. Likewise, free daycare is proposed (from 0 to 3 years old).
