Political conflict on agenda of first television debate

Candidates took part in the first television debate on Thursday night, on day three of the run-up to the December 21 election. The dismissed spokesperson of the Catalan government, Jordi Turull, who was in prison for more than a month, and only freed on Monday, was able to participate.

Together for Catalonia candidate, recently released

Turull criticised the Catalan People’s Party (PP) candidate, Xavier García Albiol, for calling the Spanish state an “exemplary democracy.” According to the PP leader, the fact that Turull could participate in the televised debate, was proof enough of Spain’s democratic ways.

“It is very sad that Turull devotes himself to insulting the country (Spain) saying that there is no democracy, when he is sitting here as a candidate,” Albiol said.

The Socialists leader Miquel Iceta was also present in this first TV debate of many more to come. Turull lambasted him, claiming that Iceta was also “responsible” for the deposed minister’s imprisonment and criticizing Iceta’s support for Article 155 and the gradual disassembly of Catalonia’s autonomy.

The Together for Catalonia (JxCat) candidate explained how Iceta could not act as if “he had nothing to do with it” when he was “taking selfies at protests calling for the imprisonment of Puigdemont.” JxCat’s candidacy is headed by Carles Puigdemont himself, who remains in Brussels despite the repeal of an international arrest warrant.

False democracy

In reply, Iceta defended himself and his party saying that it was a judge that took the decision, and not any Socialists member, accusing Turull of saying things “that are not” true.

Esquerra Republicana’s (ERC) number two, Roger Torrent, also blasted Iceta, who, although being in favour of Article 155, has always tried to play the mediator in the ongoing independence debate, even once promising the Catalan president Carles Puigdemont that he would accompany him to Madrid in the name of dialogue. Torrent said it was “immoral” for Iceta to be taking part in the current political dance-off. He also denounced Spain as “a false democracy.” ERC’s leader, Oriol Junqueras, remains in prison.

No such thing as political prisoners

There certainly were no holds barred in this first public debate on the campaign trail. The unionist Ciutadans candidate asserted that “nobody believes” that there are political prisoners, in reference to the four remaining ministers in jail as well as the grassroots activists Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart.

The pro-Spain, right of centre candidate, Inés Arrimadas, came under fire from ERC and JxCat for not having “anything to say.”

The far-left CUP candidate, Carles Riera said the fact that “legitimate” leaders are in jail is the wish of a “dictatorship” following the mandate of the “far-right,” labelling the current Spanish government as “Neofranquista,” in reference to the dead Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco.

Xavier Domènech, the Catalonia in Common head runner, also agreed that there is no democratic normality in the current situation.

Round two

In part two of the debate, the electoral proposals were the main issue. Arrimades proposed to use money that has been used “for propaganda and invest it in education and dependence, not independence.”

For his part, Domènech questioned her strategy. as he called for an end to budget cuts. Pensions were also on the agenda. “What scares a pensioner is continuing under the (Spanish) state,” said Torrent, referring to the 30% decrease in pensions in Catalonia. In a rebuttal, Albiol said that for this reason “stability is so important” putting the independence debate back on the table.

Meanwhile the Socialists leader called for more equality in employment. “I am worried that the [independentists] consider continuing a path to generate instability and uncertainty, a path that has more costs and no benefits," Iceta said, calling the independence movement a “coup d'état” and referring to the politicians involved as “criminals”.