Main pro-independence parties to pursue “common front” in next election

The two main pro-independence parties in Catalonia agreed to pursue a “common front” in the run-up to the December 21 election. The announcement was made by Marta Rovira, secretary general of left-wing ERC, after meeting deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in Brussels on Tuesday.

“We are well aware that we must carry on together and figure out the best formula to coordinate ourselves,” said Rovira. “We share our political strategy, which is absolutely coordinated,” and added that they must unite forces “against the imposition of Article 155, to free political prisoners and put an end to repression and political persecution.”

Rovira’s call for unity came after pro-independence parties decided to run in the December 21 elections in separate tickets. In recent days, several voices called pro-independence parties to unite in a joint list.

Rovira dismissed the upcoming election as "illegal," since they were called by the Spanish government after taking over the Catalan government and dissolving the Parliament. Yet, she stressed the importance of pro-independence parties gaining more support in order to win the election.