Assuming the challenge of taking the reins of a BNG bled by successive splits, Ana Pontón (Chorente-Lugo, 1977) has not only healed the wounds of Galician nationalism, but in just ten years she has catapulted it to become the alternative to the almighty PP of Galicia. And all this, paradoxically, refuting one of the maxims of Castelao, the father of Galicianism. Far from assuming that “in Galicia you don’t protest, you emigrate”, the woman from Lugo is willing to lead the change after four terms of popular governments in the Xunta.
One of the most repeated phrases in the campaign is that these are transcendental elections. Is political change possible in Galicia?
I think so. After 43 years of autonomy, we have had six presidents, all men, and all from state forces. It is time for us to have a woman in the presidency and with a free hand to govern.
Although the BNG continues to grow, the polls are favorable to the PP.
What the surveys are telling us is that the stage is open. Alfonso Rueda and the PP are in a clear downward trend compared to a BNG that does not stop rising. It depends on all undecided people, around 20% of voters, taking the BNG ballot. If they do, the PP will go into opposition and we will have a president who will work to give a better future to the Galicians.
What do you think is the reason for this change in trends?
We are losing population, we have less weight in the State as a whole, we have lost jobs in the industrial sector, 700 boats and 5,000 jobs have disappeared in the fishing sector, we are suffering a brutal drop in productivity in our estuaries… This has caused a growing unrest with the PP because it does not have a future project for Galicia. It is time to bet on something different and this is felt by more and more Galicians who see BNG as a solid alternative. The PP governments have done nothing for this country in the last 15 years beyond making it go backwards in many aspects. That is why Rueda does not want to run a campaign focused on Galicia. Whoever is part of the problem cannot be part of the solution.
What is urgent to change?
The first measure will be a shock plan in primary care endowed with 200 million euros to give back to public health a little of what the PP has taken from it. Secondly, allocate 86 million to care for many elderly people who are now helpless in their own homes. And the third priority is to change the current energy model by which the wealth of Galicia is taken and given to the electricity companies that, by the way, pay their taxes in Madrid. We must remove the chair from the electric companies that they have on the Xunta Council and establish a lower rate for Galicia.
The PP has admitted that it could propose a pardon for Puigdemont under certain conditions when, at rallies, Rueda and Feijóo call the former president a “criminal” and “blackmailer.” Is there double language from the PP?
He has been attacking Catalonia all this week and now it turns out that Mr. Feijóo is the one who wants to pardon Puigdemont. The PP has pressed the panic button, it is absolutely nervous and distraught because it knows that a handful of votes can tip the Presidency towards the BNG.
BNG and Anova have reconciled in the face of 18-F while Podemos and Sumar have not been able to join forces. Is it easier to collaborate between nationalist forces than between leftist forces?
This agreement we have reached is very generous on the part of Anova and I thank them for it. He has read the political moment and has decided to put the change of cycle before any other consideration because we have a historic opportunity to have a government at the service of Galicia. I think it was a gesture that has touched the hearts of many people who see there as an honest way of doing politics.
Are you worried that the division of Podemos and Sumar will hinder the options of the left?
Pluralism is a value and all organizations have the right to present themselves. Citizens are the ones who decide what role and what responsibility they give to each person.
Where has the BNG independence project gone?
We carry in our acronym what we are… the Galician Nationalist Bloc. And we consider that the more capacity Galicia has to decide, the better. Not to go against anyone, but to go for them.
The PP accuses BNG of wanting to “impose Galician”
One in three students claims to not know Galician while 100% are fluent in Spanish. It is the PP that is endangering our language and, by extension, our country against the BNG that has a project to restore hope to Galicia.
Does Madrid determine what happens in Galicia?
We have just experienced it, for example, with the pellet crisis. It is not logical that the powers in matters of maritime rescue and the fight against pollution are in Madrid. The Xunta government has too many ties to centralism.
What solution do you propose?
To begin with, it is worth remembering that the Galician Statute dates back to 1981 and that, 43 years later, there is a very important part of its powers that have still not been achieved. But it is evident that in the Spanish State there is a debate about its territorial model and Galicia, as a nation, has to appear in that debate with its own voice and without any type of discrimination.
