Catalan delegate in US expresses concern over possible election ‘instability’

The Catalan government delegate in the United States has expressed concern over possible “instability” if the final results of the presidential election take time to be declared, or even ends up in the courts. 

Speaking to Catalan News on the morning of the vote count, Isidre Sala said that “not positive” that Trump spoke about alleged electoral fraud. 

However, the delegate underlined the importance of waiting for the full results to come in, such was the high amount of early and postal votes cast this year, which will take more time to process. 

According to Sala, whoever is the winner, the United States will remain "divided into two halves," and with a “polarized” society. He adds that it was also to be expected that the result would take "days" to be finalised and that the electoral process would be "complex."

The Catalan politician believes that if Joe Biden ends up winning it will benefit the Catalan agricultural sector, as there will be more “confidence” US-European trade relations. 

He believes that, in particular, exports of Catalan olive oil, wine and pork have been affected by Trump's policies and tariffs placed on incoming goods in the United States, which were introduced in October 2019. 

If the Republican remains in the White House, Sala predicts further "consequences" for the Catalan economy. This could be reversed with Biden, as his foreign policy would be along the lines of regaining an "alliance with Europe," with predicted decreases in tariffs. 

In addition, he also says that if the Democratic candidate is elected, Catalans who wish to do research in the US will be able to get visas more easily.