“Not even a war finishes without dialogue,” says Catalunya en Comú candidate

A pacted referendum is possible, but it won't be easy, said Marta Ribas of Catalunya en Comú, saying it would be more possible than a unilateral solution.

"We need solutions that allow people to express what they want," she said. "This means voting and this means a referendum and for sure it has to be a pacted referendum with all guarantees and recognized by the Spanish government and international community."

With the current Spanish government in power this won't be possible she said, as she expressed the need to get rid of Mariano Rajoy's People's Party.

Although Catalunya en Comú is neither for nor against independence, it is in favour of the right to choose. When asked about how Article 155 may affect the possibility of future dialogue, she explained that it is always necessary. "Not even a war finishes without dialogue," she said.

She also highlighted the need for leftwing parties to make a pact in order to address pressing social agendas that affect Catalonia, such as health, education, and environment.

What's Catalunya en Comú's stance?

Catalunya en Comú is the only party expected to get seats in Parlament which refuses to be counted in either of the pro-independence or unionist blocs. It is against Spain's seizure of Catalan self-rule, but also against the declaration of independence. It remains ambiguous about the independence issue but is in favor of an agreed referendum. 

The party is led by Barcelona mayor, Ada Colau. Its main candidate for this election is Xavier Domènech, who has been MP in the Spanish Congress. They are very close to Spain’s Podemos, member of the European United Left group in the European Parliament. Under another name, they took part in the past Catalan election, winning 11 seats out of 135.