Half of CUP’s national secretariat step down

Barcelona (CNA).- Radical left pro-independence CUP will have to renew its national secretariat after six of its 15 members decided this Friday to step down. In a joint letter, Ester Rocabayera, Guim Pros, Joel Jové, Omar Diatta, Roger Castellanos and Tomàs Sayes expressed their “irrevocable” decision which they attributed to differences with the anti-capitalist positions on key events such as their veto of former Catalan President, Artur Mas and their rejection of the draft budget for 2016. These six members reported“sectarian and Machiavellian attitudes” in some of the decision-making processes and accused CUP of “moving away from the pro-independence strategy” assumed by the party’s programme.

The signers explained that “CUP’s main role, although not the only one, is to be a guarantor and accelerator of the pro-independence process” and that the last months’ strategy has moved the party away from this objective. “We don’t want to be misunderstood; we don’t support Artur Mas nor any budget proposal” and noted that pro-independence cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ has its share of responsibility. “We are self-critical with the role CUP has played as a political agent and its functioning shortages”, they add.

According to the letter, during this term of office “an important part” of CUP’s decisions has become too “aesthetic”, which has provoked “dangerous vacillations in the strategy from the beginning of the term”. The signers also bid for a “real change” in CUP’s organisation, as they consider that part of the national secretariat didn’t feel represented by CUP’s positions. Thus, they urge members “to be united” and “urgently change the direction in order to move forward decisively toward the construction of an independent Catalonia”.

National secretariat to be renewed on Monday

CUP’s national secretariat spokesman, Xevi Generó, announced that the process to choose new members will start next Monday. The aim is to improve “internal democracy” and the decision-making process within CUP, which is composed of different social and political groups. According to Generó, CUP is working to “renew and strengthen” the direction of the party in view of the new political period which will start in the autumn. He admitted that the renewal was “necessary” and that it would have to be completed before the Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, submits to a vote of confidence in September.

Indeed, the six members which have already stepped down would have done so on Monday. However, they wanted to do it now “due to ethical reasons”.