Left Movement
{{Infobox political party
| colorcode = {{party color|Left Movement}}
| name = Left Movement
| native_name = Moviment d'Esquerres de Catalunya
| country = Catalonia
| logo = File:Mescat-logo.png
| logo_size =
| leader = Josep Serra i Marimon
| spokesperson =
| founders = Marina Geli
Ernest Maragall
| ideology = {{nowrap|Social democracy{{cite web |last=Nordsieck |first=Wolfram |year=2017 |url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/catalonia.html |title=Catalonia/Spain |website=Parties and Elections in Europe |access-date=28 April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212094036/http://parties-and-elections.eu/catalonia.html |archive-date=12 December 2017}}
Catalan independence}}
| position = Centre-left
| foundation = 30 November 2014
| merger = New Catalan Left
Catalonia Movement
| split = Socialists' Party of Catalonia
| regional = Junts pel Sí (2015–17)
Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes (2017–20)
Together for Catalonia (2020–present)
| headquarters = Barcelona
| seats1_title = Parliament of Catalonia
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|135|hex={{party color|Left Movement}}}}
| website = {{url|https://mesesquerres.cat/}}
}}
Left Movement of Catalonia{{cite book |last=Gillespie |first=Richard |date=11 November 2019 |title=Barcelona, the Left and the Independence Movement in Catalonia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_S9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT10 |page=10 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-3510-4685-5}} ({{langx|ca|Moviment d'Esquerres}} de Catalunya, MESCat) is a social-democratic, pro-independence political party in Catalonia. The party was founded in November 2014 from the merger of New Catalan Left (NECat) and Catalonia Movement (Moviment Catalunya), which had both been formed by dissident members of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) who were dissatisfied with what they saw as the party's lack of support for the independence movement.{{cite news |agency=ACN |last=Julià |first=Núria |date=30 November 2014 |title=Neix Moviment d'Esquerres, partit del socialisme sobiranista |url=https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/4221926/20141130/neix-moviment-desquerres-partit-socialisme-sobiranista.html |language=ca |publisher=VilaWeb |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=24 January 2015 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20150124/54423941369/moviment-d-esquerres-45-listas-erc-municipales.html |title=Moviment d'Esquerres cierra 45 listas con ERC para las elecciones municipales |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} Its founders included Marina Geli (Moviment Catalunya) and Ernest Maragall (NECat), but both have ever since left for other parties—Geli joined the Together for Catalonia alliance ahead of the 2017 Catalan regional election,{{cite news |date=17 November 2017 |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/marina-geli-juntsxcat_213327_102.html |title=Marina Geli irá finalmente en la lista de JuntsxCat |language=es |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} whereas Maragall defected to Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) in 2018.{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=1 May 2018 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/ernest-maragall-erc-colaborando-partido_1_2139633.html |title=Ernest Maragall se afilia a ERC tras cuatro años colaborando con el partido |language=es |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=11 July 2020}}
History
The party had its roots in the severe internal crisis affecting the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) following its defeat in the 2010 Catalan regional election and the rise in support for Catalan independence following the 11 September 2012 demonstration. On 15 December 2012, former regional minister and Pasqual Maragall's brother Ernest Maragall, who had left the PSC in October, announced his New Catalan Left (NECat) party,{{cite news |date=15 December 2012 |url=https://www.lainformacion.com/espana/queda-constituido-el-partido-nova-esquerra-catalana-liderado-por-e-maragall_feje6zbJD5EOCqcNXvPLJ7/ |title=Queda constituido el partido Nova Esquerra Catalana, liderado por E. Maragall |language=es |newspaper=La Información |location=Sitges (Barcelona) |access-date=11 July 2020}} aiming to re-organize the Socialist space in Catalonia with Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV), the Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) and dissidents from the PSC.{{cite news |date=3 March 2014 |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/maragall-propone-una-alizanza-de-toda-la-izquierda-independentista-que-incluya-a-erc-icv-cup-necat-y-los-discolos-del-psc_9008_102.html |title=Maragall propone una alianza de toda la izquierda independentista que incluya a ERC, ICV, CUP, NECat y los díscolos del PSC |language=es |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=11 July 2020}} In June 2014, the PSC's internal current Avancem, which had been established in May 2012 and was led by deputy in the Parliament of Catalonia Joan Ignasi Elena,{{cite news |last=Ellakuría |first=Iñaki |date=20 May 2012 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120520/54296133196/elena-cuadros-psc-impulsan-movimiento-politico-interno.html |title=Elena y cuadros del PSC impulsan un movimiento político interno |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |access-date=11 July 2020}} split from its mother party and allied with NECat.{{cite news |last=Noguer |first=Miquel |date=28 June 2014 |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2014/06/28/catalunya/1403962068_883684.html |title=Avancem rompe con el PSC y se alía con Nova Esquerra Catalana |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} In July 2014, Catalonia Movement (Moviment Catalunya), a party supported by PSC members Montserrat Tura, Marina Geli and Antoni Castells, among others,{{cite news |last=González |first=Sara |date=27 May 2014 |url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/critics-PSC-anuncien-creacio-electoral_0_1145885587.html |title=Els crítics del PSC anuncien la creació d'una nova marca electoral |language=ca |newspaper=Ara |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} was established with the goal of fielding candidates in the 2015 Spanish local elections that supported Catalanism and pro-independence stances.{{cite news |date=5 July 2014 |url=https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/4201985/20140705/critics-psc-fan-pas-creen-moviment-catalunya.html |title=Els crítics del PSC fan el pas i creen el 'Moviment Catalunya' |language=ca |publisher=VilaWeb |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Planas |first=Pablo |date=7 July 2014 |url=https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/2014-07-07/moviment-catalunya-una-plataforma-para-enterrar-al-psc-1276523238/ |title='Moviment Catalunya', una plataforma para enterrar al PSC |language=es |newspaper=Libertad Digital |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}}
The three parties entered talks in August 2014 to discuss their merging into a new political party,{{cite news |agency=ACN |date=7 August 2014 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20140807/54412843812/avancem-nova-esquerra-catalana-se-fusionaran-crear-nuevo-partido.html |title=Avancem y Nova Esquerra Catalana se fusionarán para crear un nuevo partido |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=7 August 2014 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20140807/54413566900/moviment-catalunya-inclina-aliarse-avancem-necat.html |title=Moviment Catalunya se inclina por aliarse con Avancem y NECat en las municipales de 2015 |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} with all three sharing their political action in the ensuing months, such as their presence in the 2014 "V" Catalan Way or their joint public response to the 2014 Catalan self-determination referendum.{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=11 September 2014 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/necat-avancem-moviment-catalunya-anuncian_1_4655739.html |title=NECat, Avancem y Moviment Catalunya acuden juntos a la 'V' y anuncian más acciones unidos |language=es |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=16 October 2014 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/necat-avancem-moviment-elecciones-constituyente_1_4585769.html |title=NeCat, Avancem y Moviment piden a Mas elecciones con objetivo "constituyente" |language=es |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=11 July 2020}} As merger discussions continued, Avancem dropped out on 12 November, citing political disagreements with Moviment despite a "total agreement" existing with NECat.{{cite news |date=12 November 2014 |url=https://www.europapress.es/catalunya/noticia-avancem-descarta-ahora-fusionarse-necat-moviment-catalunya-20141112122842.html |title=Avancem descarta por ahora fusionarse con NECat y Moviment Catalunya |language=es |publisher=Europa Press |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=12 November 2014 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20141112/54419816580/necat-moviment-catalunya-recuperar-avancem-fusionarse-partido.html |title=NECat y Moviment Catalunya confían en recuperar a Avancem para fusionarse en un partido |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} An agreement between NECat and Moviment was reached on 20 November,{{cite news |date=20 November 2014 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20141119/nova-esquerra-y-moviment-catalunya-se-unen-y-crean-un-partido-3703370 |title=Nova Esquerra y Moviment Catalunya se unen y crean un partido |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=11 July 2020}} and ten days later both parties would officialize their merger into the newly-established "Left Movement" (MES).{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=30 November 2014 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20141130/54420902254/partido-mes-necat-moviment-catalunya.html |title=Nace el partido MES, que fusiona a NECat y Moviment Catalunya |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Rico |first=José |date=1 December 2014 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20141130/nace-partido-moviment-esquerres-3733318 |title=La diáspora del PSC se reagrupa para concurrir a las municipales |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}}
MES would run in the upcoming 24 May 2015 local elections, signing electoral alliances with ERC in 45 municipalities, with ICV in 4 and running on its own in a further 15.{{cite news |last=Fernández Guerrero |first=David |date=24 January 2015 |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2015/01/24/catalunya/1422123454_237378.html |title=Los críticos del PSC se alían con ERC en 45 municipios de Cataluña |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |date=15 March 2015 |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/mes-solo-consigue-presentarse-en-solitario-en-15-municipios_17368_102.html |title=MES solo consigue presentarse en solitario en 15 municipios |language=es |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=11 July 2020}} The party secured a total of 106 councillors, of which 37 came from the municipalities where it ran on its own and the remaining ones from its electoral agreements with ERC and ICV.{{cite news |date=26 May 2015 |url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/MES-centenar-regidors-solitari-ERC-socialistes-sobiranistes_0_1364263735.html |title=Moviment d'Esquerres obté 37 regidors en els municipis on s'ha presentat en solitari |language=ca |newspaper=Ara |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} On 26 June 2015, Magda Casamitjana was appointed as new MES president.{{cite news |date=27 June 2015 |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2015/06/27/catalunya/1435429894_745948.html |title=Magda Casamitjana, nueva líder de Moviment d'Esquerres |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} Under her leadership, the party, which had considered joining the electoral coalition being negotiated by Podemos and ICV,{{cite news |last=García Sastre |first=Daniel |date=28 June 2015 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2015/06/28/55904b5aca47417b598b458d.html |title='Lista única', ofensiva final |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=11 July 2020}} ultimately brought itself into the Junts pel Sí pro-independence alliance with ERC and Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) ahead of the 2015 Catalan regional election.{{cite news |last=Sorolla |first=José Antonio |date=16 July 2015 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20150716/lista-contra-podemos-y-encuestas-4361581 |title=Una lista contra podemos y las encuestas |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news |agency=Europa Press |date=20 July 2015 |title=MES donarà suport a la candidatura Junts pel Sí el 27-S |url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/JUNTS_PEL_SI-MOVIMENT_D-ESQUERRES-ACORD-LLISTA-27-S-ELECCIONS-INDEPENDENCIA_0_1397260480.html |language=ca |newspaper=Ara |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}} On 9 July 2016, Alfons Palacios replaced Casamitjana as party leader,{{cite news |date=10 July 2016 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/maresme/20160710/403094243050/mes-moviment-desquerres-alfons-palacios-mataro-maresme.html |title=El maresmense Alfons Palacios nuevo presidente del Moviment d'Esquerres |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Mataró |access-date=11 July 2020}} and since 2017 it has been part of the Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes alliance.{{cite news |last1=Gisbert |first1=Josep |last2=Tort |first2=Àlex |date=7 November 2017 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20171107/432707631854/independentismo-elecciones-21d-pdecat-erc-cup.html |title=El independentismo trabaja en un frente común más allá de las listas |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 July 2020}}
Electoral performance
=Parliament of Catalonia=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:left;" |
| colspan="8" align="center"| Parliament of Catalonia |
| width="75"| Election
! width="70"| Votes ! width="35"| % ! width="25"| # ! Seats ! width="35"| +/– ! Leading candidate ! Status in legislature |
|---|
| 2015
| colspan="3"| Within JxSí | {{Composition bar|1|135|hex={{party color|Left Movement}}}} | 10px1 | style="background:#efb;"| Confidence and supply |
| 2017
| colspan="3"| Within ERC–CatSí | {{Composition bar|1|135|hex={{party color|Left Movement}}}} | 10px0 | Oriol Junqueras{{efn|At the time of the election, Junqueras was in preventive detention in Estremera (Madrid).}} | style="background:#efb;"| Confidence and supply |
| 2021
| colspan="3"| Within Junts | {{Composition bar|1|135|hex={{party color|Left Movement}}}} | 10px0 | style="background:#fff;"| TBD |
Notes
{{notelist}}