'Living abroad is not an excuse for not voting'
CNA interviews five Catalans living overseas about how they feel about the Catalan elections and what they have done to get their ballot papers in on time
catalan way
Party review – PSC, the Catalan Socialist Party risks losing being the central pivot of Catalan politics
With polls predicting a considerable loss of seats and a large increase of support for the opposition party, the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) will very likely lose the Catalan presidency. In addition, the next municipal and Spanish elections also seem complicated for the Socialists, who currently lead the 3 levels of government (local, Catalan and Spanish). Their 3 main problems include: governing with a hand tied behind their back due to electoral agreements, a crisis of leadership and ruling all administrations in times of crisis.
Stereotypes about Catalonia - Catalan music? "What comes to mind is cheesy salsa, passionate flamenco and Latin dancing”, says Lucy
Lluís Gavaldà, lead singer of Els Pets answers Lucy from Glasgow: “Catalonia has very extensive musical richness, with traditional, classic, jazz and pop music in Catalan”.
Party review – ERC, the Left-Wing Catalan Independence Party
The ERC is going through an inflexion. It was part of the Left-Wing 3-party coalition that ruled the Catalan Government for the last 7 years. After the trimming of the Catalan Statute of Autonomy by the Spanish Constitutional Court, the ERC is now pushing for an independence referendum for the next term. In these elections, they risk losing many seats according to the polls, possibly going back to their 1990s figures and losing their status as the 3rd Catalan party. In addition they are running with a new leader, Joan Puigcercós.
Party review – PPC, the Catalan branch of the Conservative and Spanish Nationalist People’s Party
Alícia Sánchez-Camacho leads the Catalan People’s Party (PPC) and is running as its candidate for the Catalan presidency for the first time. Catalonia is where the People’s Party is weaker in Spain. The PPC is the 4th party in the Catalan Parliament. Sánchez-Camacho is putting the economic crisis and immigration at the forefront of her campaign, together with the defence of the Spanish language and the aim to stop Catalan separatists.
Immigrants spend 4 times less on medication in Lleida than natives
A study conducted by professors at the University of Lleida shows that immigrants spend less money on medication than natives. It also shows that inhabitants of rural areas spend more money on medication than those of urban areas.
Four tons of truffles are expected to be collected this season in Catalonia
Every kilo of truffles will cost the consumer around 400 euros. There are 350 hectares in Catalonia where one can find this delicacy
Stereotypes about Catalonia - “I know Barcelona, but I don’t exactly know what Catalonia or Catalans are”, states New Yorker Sarah
Sergi Belbel, artistic director of the National Theatre of Catalonia (TNC): “To understand Catalans, the first thing is to understand the concepts of ‘seny’ and ‘rauxa’”.
Stereotypes about Catalonia - “Tapas, paella, patates braves and pa amb tomàquet are the dishes that define Barcelona’s way of life”, said Parisian Laure
For chef 7 Michelin-star, Santi Santamaria, with 2 restaurants in Catalonia, 1 in Dubai and 1 in Singapur, tapas are for tourists. “We prefer more to deeply experience dishes”, he states.
Pedro Nueno: “It makes all the sense in the world for Chery to invest in Catalonia”
The professor of business direction and administration for IESE, Pedro Nueno, assures that conversations between the Catalan Government and the Chinese auto manufacturer Chery are “fully underway”.
Ratafia, the sweet green walnut liqueur finds a new public
People who love this particular nutty liqueur had an opportunity to go to one of the main tasting fairs in Santa Coloma de Farners (La Selva County). In December, Ratafia fans will have another chance at the Besalú (Garrotxa County) fair.
Temperature rises and controversies increase during “the only” televised electoral debate
The only one? Not anymore. Last night, the televised debate among the leaders of the 6 parties with parliamentary representation ended in a compromise for a second debate tomorrow, this time only between the 2 main leaders: Artur Mas from the CiU and the most likely new president, and the incumbent, José Montilla from PSC, who will likely be defeated according to the polls.
Party review – ICV-EUiA, a mix of Greens, Socialists and former Communists
Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds – Esquerra Unida i Alternativa (ICV-EUiA) is a coalition of several political forces, which has 2 main pillars. The main one is the ICV, which is an Eco-Socialist party, and strongly Catalanist. The second one is EUiA, which is a coalition of small pro-Communist parties, linked to the Spanish Izquierda Unida. ICV-EUiA has been in the 3-party governing coalition for the last 7 years. Its current leader is Joan Herrera.
Conca de Barberà opens a new centre for the promotion of its wine
The new centre was inaugurated this morning in Montblanc, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the DO’s Regulatory Board. The centre will be used for the promotion of DO Conca de Barberà wines.
Party review – Ciudadanos, the anti-Catalan nationalism party
Albert Rivera leads this party, which ran for the first time in the last elections and got 3 seats in the Catalan Parliament. Polls predict they could repeat these results or increase by 1 seat. Ciudadanos (meaning “Citizens”) defends the use of the Spanish language, stating that it is in danger in Catalonia. The party was born as a reaction to the debate on the Catalan Statute of Autonomy’s reform.