Catalan European Democratic Party

Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) held its last congress on 8 July 2016, in which CDC's members agreed to its "refoundation" into a new political party, whose founding congress was held in the course of the same assembly from 8 to 10 July. The reasoning behind the re-branding process often cited the presenting of a renewed trademark and a desire to disassociate the party from CDC's corruption problems, including those of its founder, Jordi Pujol, which occurred during its dominance of Catalan regional politics.{{cite news |date=2 February 2017 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/fantasmas-corrupcion-ciu-irrumpen-pdecat_1_3603292.html |title=Los fantasmas de la corrupción de CiU irrumpen en la era del PDECat |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |date=4 May 2017 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/fracaso-refundacion-convergencia_1_3420026.html |title=Siete síntomas que muestran que la refundación de Convergència en el PDECat no ha funcionado |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=9 July 2020}}

Two names were commissioned to a communication company and initially floated for the new party: "More Catalonia" ({{langx|ca|Més Catalunya}}) and "Convergent Catalans" ({{langx|ca|link=no|Catalans Convergents}}), but both were rejected by the party's membership who perceived them as artificial and "soulless".{{cite news |date=8 July 2016 |url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/politica/nueva-convergencia-elegira-ente-mes-catalunya-catalans-convergents-5256718 |title=Un motín en CDC obliga a aplazar la elección del nombre del nuevo partido |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Fernández |first=Antonio |date=8 July 2016 |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/cataluna/2016-07-08/cdc-mas-nuevo-partido_1230464/ |title=Los militantes del nuevo partido de Mas se sublevan y votan no al nombre del 'invento' |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Confidencial |location=Barcelona |access-date=17 July 2020}} On 9 July, three other proposals were presented: "Together for Catalonia" ({{langx|ca|link=no|Junts per Catalunya}}), "Catalan Democratic Party" ({{langx|ca|link=no|Partit Demòcrata Català}}) and "Catalan National Party" ({{langx|ca|link=no|Partit Nacional Català}}).{{cite news |last=Barrena |first=Xabi |date=8 July 2016 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20160709/trias-se-suma-a-las-criticas-por-el-proceso-de-eleccion-del-nombre-de-la-nueva-cdc-5257447 |title=Los tres finalistas para la nueva CDC: 'Junts per Catalunya', 'Partit Demòcrata Català' y 'Partit Nacional Català' |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=9 July 2020}} In the last voting held on 10 July, "Catalan Democratic Party" topped the ballot in a 871–657 vote against "Catalan National Party". In the new party's leadership election held on 23–24 July, Artur Mas became president—continuing on the role he held in CDC—Neus Munté was elected as vice-president and Marta Pascal was appointed to the newly created post of coordinator-general.{{cite news |date=23 July 2016 |url=http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2016/07/23/579342f3268e3ea62c8b45d6.html |title=El Partit Demòcrata encumbra a Mas con el 95% de los votos |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=29 October 2018}}{{cite news |date=24 July 2016 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/edicion-impresa/20160724/403429557104/el-nuevo-pdc-estrena-direccion.html |title=El nuevo PDC estrena dirección |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |access-date=9 July 2020}}

File:Congrés fundacional (27898317840).jpg

Spain's interior ministry announced the difficulty of registering the party under such name, since it could be confused with Democrats of Catalonia (DC), an existing political party which had been one of CDC's partners in the Junts pel Sí electoral alliance; this fact had already prevented a 2015 registered of a different political organization under the name "Democratic Party of Catalonia".{{cite news |last=Fernández |first=Antonio |date=14 July 2016 |url=http://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/cataluna/2016-07-14/partit-democrata-catala-ejecutiva_1232686/ |title=El partido de Mas no podrá llamarse 'Partit Democràta Català' por confusión con otro |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Confidencial |location=Barcelona |access-date=20 September 2016}}{{cite news |last=Barrena |first=Xabi |date=14 July 2016 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20160714/ministerio-interior-no-registrara-nombre-partido-democrata-catala-5267092 |title=Interior advierte de que no registrará el nombre del Partit Demòcrata Català |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=20 September 2016}} DC's spokesman, Antoni Castellà, threatened in August that "if the PDC does not change its label, then there will be conflict within Junts pel Sí".{{cite news |date=22 August 2016 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20160822/democrates-pdc-convergencia-nombre-jxsi-conflicto-5337483 |title=Castellà (Demòcrates): "Si el PDC no cambia su marca habrá un conflicto en Junts pel Sí" |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=20 September 2016}} On 20 September the party announced that it would attempt to register the party under the "Catalan European Democratic Party", but since it could result in potential conflict as well (the name "Catalan Party of Europe" had been registered by Pasqual Maragall in July 1998) the names "Catalan National Party", "Together for Catalonia", "More Catalonia" and "Catalan Democratic Pact" were also registered in case the new name was to be rejected by the interior ministry as well.{{cite news |date=20 September 2016 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20160920/partit-democrata-europeu-catala-nueva-propuesta-convergencia-5389097 |title=El PDC encalla también con el nuevo nombre propuesto |language=Spanish |work=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=20 September 2016}}{{cite news |date=20 September 2016 |url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/cdc-ho-intenta-ara-amb-partit-democrata-europeu-catala/ |title=CDC intenta ara de canviar el nom per 'Partit Demòcrata Europeu Català' |language=Catalan |publisher=VilaWeb |access-date=20 September 2016}} The interior ministry ended up accepting the new proposed name under the PDeCAT label on 29 September,{{cite news |last=Sallés |first=Quico |date=30 September 2016 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20160930/41698230995/convergencia-nuevo-nombre-pdecat.html |title=La antigua Convergència ya tiene nombre |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |access-date=3 October 2016}}{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=3 October 2016 |url=http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2016/10/03/57f25e6dca474176738b45a7.html |title=CDC ya tiene nuevo nombre: Partit Demòcrata Europeu Català (PDECat) |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=3 October 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://sede.mir.gob.es/nfrontal/webpartido_politico.html |title=Registro de Partidos Políticos |language=Spanish |website=sede.mir.gob.es |publisher=Ministry of the Interior |access-date=9 July 2020}} and it was subsequently ratified by party members in a ballot conducted on 21–22 October 2016.{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=22 October 2016 |url=http://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/asociados-PDC-ratifican-llamarse-PDECAT_0_572193121.html |title=Las bases de la antigua Convergència ratifican al PDECAT como el nuevo nombre del partido |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=22 October 2016}}

Ever since its inception, the party struggled to maintain the political and electoral space formerly held by the late CDC. Ahead of the 2017 Catalan regional election and the exceptional circumstances around its celebration, the PDeCAT proposed ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont as their leading candidate,{{cite news |date=3 November 2017 |title=Puigdemont: "Estoy dispuesto a ser candidato; incluso desde el extranjero" |url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20171103/432560762469/carles-puigdemont-candidato-elecciones-cataluna.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=5 November 2017}}{{cite news |last=Baquero |first=Camilo Sixto |date=5 November 2017 |title=Carles Puigdemont será el candidato del PDeCAT en las elecciones del 21-D |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2017/11/05/catalunya/1509880647_850919.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=5 November 2017}} at the helm of an electoral alliance centered around the candidate under the Together for Catalonia (JxCat) label and including Puigdemont-aligned non-PDeCAT members such as Jordi Sànchez or eventual Catalan president Quim Torra.{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=13 November 2017 |url=http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2017/11/13/5a09d80b468aeb6b328b467e.html |title=Puigdemont encabezará una lista el 21-D bajo el nombre de 'Junts per Catalunya' |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Barcelona |access-date=13 November 2017}}{{cite news |date=13 November 2017 |url=https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/el-pdcat-registra-la-marca-electoral-junts-per-catalunya-la-llista-que-liderara-puigdemont/ |title=Junts per Catalunya, la llista del PDECat que liderarà Puigdemont |language=Catalan |publisher=VilaWeb |access-date=13 November 2017}} The alliance's success in the election, where it outperformed Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) to become the dominating force within the pro-independence camp, resulted in an increase of influence for Puigdemont within the party. On 9 January 2018, Artur Mas resigned as PDeCAT president, citing disagreements with Puigdemont's plan for independence.{{cite news |last=Baquero |first=Camilo Sixto |date=9 January 2018 |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2018/01/09/catalunya/1515508679_937048.html |title=El plan de Puigdemont desata las primeras bajas en el separatismo |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} Ahead of the party's general assembly on 21–22 July 2018, Puigdemont forced Marta Pascal's renounce as PDeCAT's coordinator-general, resulting in the appointment of a new leadership—with David Bonheví becoming new party president (replacing Munté, who had acceded the post after Mas's resignation) and Míriam Nogueras as vice-president—more supportive of Puigdemont's strategy.{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=21 July 2018 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20180721/pascal-dimite-pdecat-puigdemont-6954893 |title=Puigdemont somete al PDECat y defenestra a Pascal |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |date=21 July 2018 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180721/451002239147/marta-pascal-renuncia-direccion-pdecat.html |title=Pascal renuncia a la dirección del PDeCat: "No tengo la confianza de Puigdemont" |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} Concurrently, Puigdemont established his own political platform, the National Call for the Republic (CNxR), intending for the PDeCAT and its political structure to be eventually merged into it.{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=21 July 2018 |url=https://www.eitb.eus/es/noticias/politica/detalle/5745674/pdecat-asamblea-general-21-22-julio-2018-marta-pascal-renuncia-liderar/ |title=Marta Pascal renuncia a liderar el PDeCAT |language=Spanish |publisher=EiTB |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Jordan |first=Guifré |date=16 July 2018 |url=http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/puigdemont-and-torra-to-promote-new-political-movement |title=Puigdemont and Torra to promote new political movement |publisher=Catalan News |location=Barcelona |access-date=8 August 2018}} One of Pascal's last decisions as coordinator-general of the PDeCAT was to support the motion of no confidence on the government of Mariano Rajoy that saw Pedro Sánchez replace Rajoy as Prime Minister of Spain on 1 June 2018, against Puigdemont's directions.{{cite news |last=Anguera de Sojo |first=Iva |date=1 June 2018 |url=https://www.elindependiente.com/politica/2018/06/01/pascal-primera-victoria-apoyo-mocion-de-censura/ |title=Pascal se apunta la primera victoria con el apoyo del PDeCat a la moción de censura |language=Spanish |publisher=El Independiente |access-date=9 July 2020}}

On 27 October 2018, the PDeCAT was voted out from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE) by a two-thirds majority of members at an extraordinary party council meeting, citing the corruption scandals affecting the late CDC's as the main driving reason behind the move, as they went "against the interests and values" of ALDE.{{cite news |last=Contiguglia |first=Cat |date=27 October 2018 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/alde-group-expels-catalan-separatist-party-carles-puigdemont-pdecat/ |title=On anniversary of Catalan independence bid, ALDE expels separatist party |publisher=Politico |access-date=29 October 2018}}{{cite news |agency=ACN |date=27 October 2018 |url=http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/alde-expels-puigdemont-s-party |title=ALDE expels Puigdemont's party |publisher=Catalan News |location=Brussels |access-date=29 October 2018}}{{cite news |last=Martínez |first=Silvia |date=27 October 2018 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20181027/los-liberales-europeos-consuman-la-expulsion-del-pdecat-7114127 |title=Los liberales europeos expulsan al PDECat por la corrupción de CDC |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Brussels |access-date=9 July 2020}}

Throughout 2019, discussions took place on the future of the post-CDC political space, leading to negotiations between the PDeCAT and Puigdemont to bring all three entities resulting from CDC's demise—PDeCAT, JxCat and CNxR—into a single unitary platform under the umbrella of Together for Catalonia, whose naming rights belonged to the PDeCAT.{{cite news |last=March |first=Oriol |date=27 October 2019 |url=https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/189865/crida/fa/any/amb/vista/posada/properes/eleccions/al/parlament |title=La Crida fa un any amb la vista posada en les properes eleccions al Parlament |language=Catalan |newspaper=Nació Digital |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=ACN |date=8 January 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200108/bonvehi-sanchez-negocian-encaje-pdecat-crida-7798484 |title=Bonvehí y Sànchez ya negocian el encaje entre el PDeCAT y la Crida |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} Some sectors within the party had been weary of Puigdemont's growing influence and {{not a typo|rupturist}} discourse taking over the traditional moderate political space of the late CDC, as well as his frequent use of independent candidates unrelated to the party's structure.{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=16 June 2019 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20190616/el-pdecat-trata-de-evitar-la-escision-subsumiendose-en-jxcat-7505613 |title=El PDECat tratará de evitar la escisión subsumiéndose en JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} Concerns also came about Puigdemont's decision to transform the CNxR into a full-fledged political party in January 2019, as the PDeCAT leadership, while favouring some type of relationship with Puigdemont's movement, rejected any prospect of merging within another party and instead saw the CNxR as a potential competitor.{{cite news |last=Baquero |first=Camilo Sixto |date=16 January 2019 |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/01/16/catalunya/1547670903_735230.html |title=La Crida Nacional de Puigdemont ya es partido político |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |date=13 December 2019 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20191213/el-pdecat-reivindica-su-papel-como-pieza-clave-de-junts-per-catalunya-7773198 |title=El PDECat acepta cambiar de nombre pero sin disolverse en JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=9 July 2020}} In March 2020, the PDeCAT suggested the establishment of an electoral coalition rather than both parties competing each other,{{cite news |last=Quitian |first=Sergi |date=5 March 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200305/473975584586/pdecat-crida-coalicion-reordenacion-posconvergente.html |title=El PDECat propone una coalición con la Crida ante la falta de acuerdo en la reordenación posconvergente |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=16 July 2020}} but this proposal went unheeded by the CNxR,{{cite news |last=Anguera de Sojo |first=Iva |date=8 March 2020 |url=https://www.elindependiente.com/politica/2020/03/08/la-batalla-entre-pdecat-y-la-crida-bloquea-la-redefinicion-de-jxcat/ |title=La batalla entre PDeCat y la Crida bloquea la redefinición de JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Independiente |access-date=16 July 2020}} and shortly after the negotiation process stalled as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain.{{cite news |date=8 June 2020 |url=https://www.europapress.es/catalunya/noticia-pdecat-crida-retoman-negociaciones-reordenar-espacio-jxcat-20200608182646.html |title=El PDeCAT y la Crida retoman las negociaciones para reordenar el espacio de JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=Europa Press |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}

The resumption of talks in June 2020 revealed that the PDeCAT would keep opposing both to dissolve itself and to renounce the JxCat's trademark,{{cite news |last1=Quitian |first1=Sergi |last2=Gisbert |first2=Josep |date=30 June 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200630/482031592386/pdecat-jxcat-puigdemont-la-crida-tension.html |title=El PDECat se vindica como JxCat en pleno tira y afloja con Puigdemont |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} while also citing that Puigdemont "had moved too to the left" in the political spectrum as one of the reasons to preserve its identity.{{cite news |last=Tomàs |first=Neus |date=10 July 2020 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/partido-ideologia-puigdemont-intentara_1_6096422.html |title=¿Un partido sin ideología? Puigdemont lo intentará |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=16 July 2020}}{{cite news |date=18 July 2020 |last=Gisbert |first=Josep |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200718/482350208905/pdecat-enmienda-totalidad-estrategia-jxcat-niega-desaparecer-carles-puigdemont.html |title=El PDECat plantea una enmienda a la totalidad a la estrategia de JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=18 July 2020}} In contrast, the CNxR did not contemplate any scenario other than the promotion of a "different" structure that had nothing to do with the late Convergence and its legacy.{{cite news |last=Quitian |first=Sergi |date=19 June 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200619/481836014467/pdecat-crida-retoman-reuniones-reordenacion.html |title=El PDECat y la Crida retoman sus reuniones para la reordenación |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Quitian |first=Sergi |date=26 June 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200626/481953048096/la-crida-acorrala-pdecat-exigir-nuevo-partido.html |title=La Crida acorrala al PDECat al exigir un nuevo partido |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} On 26 June, the party's executive under party president David Bonheví rejected Puigdemont's attempts to absorb the party,{{cite news |last=Cañizares |first=María Jesús |date=26 June 2020 |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/pdecat-rechaza-ser-absorbida-por-puigdemont_361854_102.html |title=El PDECat rechaza ser absorbido por Puigdemont |language=Spanish |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=10 July 2020}} prompting JxCat independents and elected members to launch a public manifesto arguing for the re-organization of the Together for Catalonia political space into a full-fledged party and the PDeCAT's dissolution into it.{{cite news |last=Manchón |first=Manel |date=27 June 2020 |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/puigdemont-llama-orden-con-manifiesto-contra-pdecat_362109_102.html |title=Puigdemont llama al orden con un manifiesto contra el PDECat |language=Spanish |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=10 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Bou |first1=Lluís |date=28 June 2020 |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/manifiesto-urge-jxcat-partido-supera-1-200-adheridos-24h_517932_102.html |title=El manifiesto que urge a crear JxCAT como partido supera 1.200 adheridos en 24 h |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} PDeCAT members replied with another manifesto, in which they vindicated the party's identity and legacy, showing their rejection to disband the party's organizational structure into Puigdemont's personal project and criticizing what they perceived as "one thinking" from the former president's supporters because of their unwillingness to treat them as equals.{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=29 June 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200629/manifiesto-cargos-pdecat-puigdemont-pensamiento-unico-8018596 |title=Cargos electos del PDECat cargan contra el "pensamiento único" de los afines a Puigdemont |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=10 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=ACN |date=1 July 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200701/manifiesto-afines-direccion-pdecat-no-diluirse-dentro-jxcat-8021544 |title=Un manifiesto afín a la dirección del PDECat reclama que el partido no deje de existir ni se diluya dentro de JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=10 July 2020}}

This failure in negotiations led to Puigdemont's announcement on 2 July that he would be founding a new political party aimed at bringing together supporters of unilateral independence ahead of the 2021 Catalan regional election, seeing the merger and subsequent dissolution into it of the CNxR and aligned organizations,{{cite news |last=Quitian |first=Sergi |date=2 July 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200702/482055842138/puigdemont-nuevo-partido-26-de-julio-jxcat.html |title=Puigdemont hace oficial que su nuevo partido nacerá el 25 de julio |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia 1location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Quitian |first=Sergi |date=8 July 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200708/482191488364/direccion-crida-jordi-sanchez-disolucion-puigdemont-partido.html |title=La dirección de la Crida apuesta por disolver la entidad y sumarse al partido de Puigdemont |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} as well as the breaking up of all ties with the PDeCAT.{{cite news |last1=Masreal |first1=Fidel |last2=García Sastre |first2=Daniel |date=2 July 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200702/puigdemont-anuncia-nuevo-partido-jxcat-8023389 |title=Puigdemont anuncia la creación de un partido al margen del PDECat |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=ACN |date=2 July 2020 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/puigdemont-definitivamente-pdecat-presentara-partido_1_6077385.html |title=Puigdemont rompe definitivamente con el PDeCAT y presentará un nuevo partido en julio |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=9 July 2020}} A political struggle ensued on the ownership of the "Together for Catalonia" trademark,{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=8 July 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200708/puigdemont-pdecat-cambio-marca-jxcat-8031162 |title=Puigdemont maniobra para arrebatarle al PDECat la marca JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} with Puigdemont's supporters taking over it from the PDeCAT on 10 July by changing JxCat's party data in the interior ministry register to reflect its new ownership.{{cite news |last=González |first=David |date=10 July 2020 |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/puigdemont-se-hace-con-el-control-de-junts-per-catalunya-con-un-presidente-afin_521499_102.html |title=Puigdemont se hace con el control de Junts per Catalunya con un presidente afín |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=10 July 2020}} The PDeCAT dubbed this as an illegal act and announced that it would challenge it, as the party still regarded the JxCat's trademark as theirs.{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=10 July 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200710/puigdemont-arrebata-marca-jxcat-pdecat-8035121 |title=Puigdemont arrebata al PDECat la marca Junts per Catalunya |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=10 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=10 July 2020 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/agencias/puigdemont-y-el-pdecat-se-encaminan-a-un-pulso-legal-por-la-marca-de-jxcat_1_6097348.html |title=Puigdemont y el PDeCAT se encaminan a un pulso legal por la marca de JxCat |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |location=Barcelona |access-date=10 July 2020}} As the change did not affect the electoral coalition—which legally comprised the PDeCAT and CDC—nor its electoral rights, an awkward situation could develop if both "Together for Catalonia" (Puigdemont's party) and "Together for Catalonia" (the PDeCAT's coalition) chose to confront each other in any future election under such labels,{{cite news |last=Gisbert |first=Josep |date=10 July 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200710/482209720318/puigdemont-siglas-jxcat-pdecat.html |title=Puigdemont arrebata la marca JxCat a la dirección del PDECat |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |access-date=10 July 2020}} with the latter not ruling own an independent run.{{cite news |last=Lasalas |first=Marta |date=14 July 2020 |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/bonvehi-pdecat-contribuira-elecciones-una-forma-u-otra-jxcat_522348_102.html |title=Bonvehí asegura que el PDeCAT concurrirá a las elecciones "de una forma u otra" |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=14 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=ACN |date=18 July 2020 |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/pdecat-preparado-afrontar-elecciones-solitario_523572_102.html |title=El PDeCAT, "preparado" para afrontar unas elecciones en solitario |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=18 July 2020}} Puigdemont's party rejected using the PDeCAT's electoral rights as well as engaging into any sort of future electoral arrangement with it that did not come through its dissolution,{{cite news |date=12 July 2020 |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/sanchez-descarta-coalicion-junts-pdecat-porque-comporta-cuotas_366870_102.html |title=Sànchez descarta una coalición de Junts y el PDECat porque "comporta cuotas" |language=Spanish |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=14 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Piñol |first=Àngels |date=12 July 2020 |url=https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2020-07-12/el-partido-que-impulsa-carles-puigdemont-renuncia-a-los-derechos-electorales-del-pdecat.html |title=El partido que impulsa Carles Puigdemont renuncia a los derechos electorales del PDeCAT |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=14 July 2020}} and prompted PDeCAT members supportive to his cause to leave it en masse upon the establishment of his new party.{{cite news |last=Hernández Valls |first=Fernando |date=15 July 2020 |title=Puigdemont plantea llevar las catalanas a noviembre y enreda los PGE a Sánchez |url=https://www.lainformacion.com/espana/cataluna-puigdemont-elecciones-noviembre-presupuestos-sanchez-erc/2810385/ |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Información |access-date=15 July 2020}} On 24 July, Independence Rally (RI.cat), which had been associated to CDC/PDeCAT since 2013, announced that it would be joining Puigdemont's new party.{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=24 July 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200724/482484673914/reagrupament-se-desliga-del-pdecat-y-apoya-el-nuevo-partido-de-puigdemont.html |title=Reagrupament se desliga del PDeCAT y apoya el nuevo partido de Puigdemont |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=25 July 2020}}

In the meantime, several current and former party members—including former coordinator-general Marta Pascal—split to form the Nationalist Party of Catalonia (PNC), out of their disagreement with the PDeCAT's drift towards unilateralism under Puigdemont's influence.{{cite news |date=17 May 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200517/481214442135/marta-pascal-pdecat-renuncia-baja.html |title=Marta Pascal se da de baja del PDECat |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |access-date=9 July 2020}} The split was formalized by the PNC's founding congress on 27 June 2020,{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=27 June 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200627/481986899228/el-pnc-echa-a-andar-con-pascal-como-lider-y-defendiendo-el-referendum-pactado.html |title=El PNC echa a andar con Pascal como líder y defendiendo el referéndum pactado |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} amid concerns that Puigdemont's move to found his own party could also further the split of PDeCAT's sectors more aligned to his and the CNxR's strategies.{{cite news |last=Gisbert |first=Josep |date=25 June 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200625/481943799109/el-pdecat-avanza-hacia-la-escision-ante-la-falta-de-acuerdo-con-la-crida.html |title=El PDECat avanza hacia la escisión ante la falta de acuerdo con la Crida |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=26 June 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200626/riesgo-de-fractura-real-en-la-posconvergencia-8015945 |title=Riesgo de fractura real en la posconvergencia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Gisbert |first=Josep |date=9 July 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200709/482195533515/requiem-por-el-pdecat.html |title=Réquiem por el PDECat |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}

On 29 August 2020, the party made official that it was suing Puigdemont for his "unlawful" takeover of the JxCat's trademark,{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=29 August 2020 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/el-pdecat-demanda-a-los-afines-a-puigdemont-por-apropiarse-de-la-marca-jxcat_1_6189071.html |title=El PDeCAT demanda a los afines a Puigdemont por apropiarse de la marca 'JxCat' |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=31 August 2020}} sparking a defection en masse from party members aligned to the former Catalan president, including Puigdemont himself, to the new Junts party.{{cite news |last=Gisbert |first=Josep |date=30 August 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200830/483178265680/puigdemont-pdecat-jxcat-junts-senadores.html |title=Puigdemont y el PDECat rompen |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=31 August 2020}}{{cite news |last=Gisbert |first=Josep |date=31 August 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200831/483209322755/pdecat-junts-convergencia-puigdemont-puig.html |title=El PDECat se escinde |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=31 August 2020}}{{cite news |date=31 August 2020 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/puigdemont-da-baja-pdecat-confirma-ruptura-espacio-posconvergente_1_6191053.html |title=Puigdemont se da de baja del PDeCAT y confirma la ruptura en el espacio posconvergente |language=Spanish |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=31 August 2020}} As of early September 2020, PDeCAT still retained four legislators in the Parliament of Catalonia, four legislators in the Congress of Deputies, some prominent politicians (including former Catalan president Artur Mas, the chairwoman of the Port of Barcelona Mercè Conesa and the ex-regional minister of Enterprise and Knowledge Àngels Chacón—just removed from office in a cabinet reshuffle by Quim Torra—) as well as a number of mayors, including Marc Solsona (also a Catalan MP), the spokesperson of the party.{{cite news |last=Bella |first=Emili |date=3 September 2020 |title=Els diputats de JxCat obren el curs obviant la crisi del PDeCAT |url=https://www.elpuntavui.cat/politica/article/1843619-els-diputats-de-jxcat-obren-el-curs-obviant-la-crisi-del-pdecat.html |language=Catalan |newspaper=El Punt Avui |location=Barcelona |access-date=5 September 2020}}{{cite news |last=Gisbert |first=Josep |date=5 September 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200905/483296941945/pdecat-busca-perfil-propio-dispuesto-negociar-sanchez.html |title=El PDECat busca perfil propio y está dispuesto a negociar con Sánchez |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=5 September 2020}}

On 28 October 2023, the party was officially dissolved following declining electoral fortunes.{{cite web | url=https://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/pdecat-announces-end-to-political-activity | title=PDeCAT announces end to political activity | date=29 October 2023 }}

The party was described as centre-right, supportive of European integration and market-liberal policies, and was neoliberal in the economic outlook.{{cite book|author=Richard Gillespie|title=Barcelona, the Left and the Independence Movement in Catalonia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_S9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT16|year=2019|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-04685-5|page=16}} The party described itself as Catalanist, independentist, republican, pro-Europeanist,{{cite book|author=Niklas Bremberg|editor1=Antonina Bakardjieva Engelbrekt|editor2=Karin Leijon|editor3=Anna Michalski|editor4=Lars Oxelheim|chapter=The Dream of the Nation-State: Is Regional Succession a Threat to European Integration?|title=The European Union and the Return of the Nation State: Interdisciplinary European Studies|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-cLLDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA255|year=2020|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=978-3-030-35005-5|pages=255–258}} and humanist in its ideological manifesto, defending that Catalonia is a nation with the right of self-determination, whose fixed path to achieve an independent state involves expanding the pro-independence social majority and exhausting all legal venues to reach an agreement "without renouncing the unilateral path to achieve these objectives".{{cite news |last=García Sastre |first=Daniel |date=11 July 2016 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2016/07/11/5783602ee5fdeadb2a8b45e7.html |title=Mas consagra el giro independentista para blindarse |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}

File:PDC logo.svg|Logo from July to October 2016.

File:Partit Democrata Europeu Catala.svg|Logo from October to December 2016.

File:PDeCAT logo 2016-2.svg|Logo from December 2016 to July 2018.

File:PDeCAT logo 2018.svg|Logo from July 2018 to October 2023.

File:PDeCAT 2020.svg|Logo used for the elections of the year 2021{{Cite web|url=https://www.partitdemocrata.cat/noticies/el-pdecat-aprova-convocar-una-assemblea-nacional-extraordinaria-abans-del-juny/|title=Partit Demòcrata Europeu Català |}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Catalan European Democratic Party}}

{{Catalan nationalism}}

{{Spanish political parties}}

{{Catalan political parties}}

Category:2016 establishments in Catalonia

Category:Catalan independence movement

Category:Catalan nationalist parties

Category:Centrist parties in Spain

Category:Liberal parties in Spain

Category:Political parties established in 2016

Category:Political parties in Catalonia

Category:Pro-European political parties in Spain

Category:Republican parties in Spain

Category:Political parties disestablished in 2023