‘Catalan Democratic Party’, the new CDC, defined as pro-independence

Barcelona (CNA).- The 18^th Congress of Liberal ‘Convergència’ (CDC) decided that the party’s new name will be the ‘Catalan Democratic Party’. 871 people voted for this option while 657 opted for the other final option, the ‘Catalan National Party’. Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont and former Catalan President and leader of CDC, Artur Mas also voted for the ‘Catalan Democratic Party’. In this vein, Puigdemont also celebrated that the new party “is at the Government’s, Parliament’s and Catalan society’s disposal” to help him achieve the task which he was entrusted with, that is to say putting Catalonia at the gates of independence. The aim of the Congress was to reinvent CDC, which ruled in Catalonia together with Christian Democrats ‘Unió’ for nearly 30 years, and adapt the party to “the new challenges ahead”.

“I’m excited about the new one and in love with the old one”, stated Puigdemont, paraphrasing Catalan poet Josep Vicenç Foix in relation to the party’s new name. The Catalan President emphasised that Catalan nationalists “have always been able to interpret what was the most convenient for each generation they aimed to serve”.

The Congress also approved the new party’s ideological and organisational plan. The ‘Catalan Democratic Party’ is defined as a pro-independence party instead of sovereigntist, which CDC used to be, and bids for a state in the form of a republic.

Regarding the organisation, the option of a “presidential tandem”, presented by former Catalan President and CDC leader, Artur Mas has been approved, as well as a board composed by 12 members and with one Genera Coordinator. On the 23^th of July the candidates for all of these positions will have to be voted upon. Mas’ proposal was that the ‘tandem’ will be composed by himself and the Government’s spokeswoman, Neus Munté.

ERC assesses the new CDC as a “centre-right” formation

Left-wing pro-independence ERC, which won the last Catalan elections running together with the previous incarnation of CDC under the cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’, wished “good luck” to the ‘Catalan Democratic Party’ and described its ideology as “right, centre-right”. In a press conference this Monday, ERC’s spokesman Sergi Sabrià stated that Catalonia’s political process needs “strong and clean parties with clear objectives”. He added that the republicanism now defended by the ‘Catalan Democratic Party’ is understood “in opposition to monarchy” whereas ERC’s defence of republicanism “goes much into the values” of it, focusing on “social democracy and the ability to safeguard the citizen’s rights”.

‘Ciutadans’: “the same people and the same corruption” in a new party

Spanish Unionist ‘Ciutadans’, the second main party in the Catalan Chamber, criticised CDC’s reinvention. “Mas should be very pleased that everybody talks about the name rather than the corruption scandals which affects its board”, stated ‘Ciutadans’ leader in the Parliament, Inés Arrimadas. “They can change the name but it is the same party, with the same people and with the same corruption cases in the court and with the same idea of breaking Spain and the EU without respecting the social majorities in Catalonia nor the democratic laws”, she stated.

‘Demòcrates de Catalunya’ annoyed about the name chosen

‘Demòcrates de Catalunya’ the party which split from former CDC partners Christian Democrats ‘Unió’ are outraged over the name chosen by CDC to reinvent themselves, as they consider the name ‘Catalan Democratic Party’too similar to theirs. ‘Demòcrates de Catalunya’ spokesman, Antoni Castellà, doesn’t see “bad faith” in the decision but confirmed that the party will contact the party register in order to stop the new party’s name from being registered, since they feel it may lead to confusion. Castellà also asked the ‘Catalan Democratic Party’ not to imitate the ‘Demòcrates de Catalunya’ logo, its initials, its colour nor the name to refer to the member of the new party's name, as they could both be called 'democrats'. If they refuse to do so, Castellà has assured that the party will use legal resort and that it may affect the parliamentary relations of ‘Junts Pel Sí’, since ‘Demòcrates de Catalunya’ are also within this cross-party list.