Together for Catalonia (2020)

Convergence and Union (CiU), a Catalan nationalist alliance between the liberal Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) and the Christian democratic Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC), had been the dominant political force in Catalonia since the Transition, having governed from 1980 to 2003 under Jordi Pujol. In 2010, CiU returned to the government under the leadership of Artur Mas, who embraced the pro-independence movement following the 2012 Diada. In the run-up to the 2015 regional election, CDC formed a joint list with other pro-independence parties, whereas UDC members narrowly voted to run independently, effectively dissolving CiU.{{cite news |last=Segura |first=Cristian |date=9 February 2021 |title=La década que acabó con Convergència i Unió |url=https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2021-02-09/la-decada-que-acabo-con-convergencia-i-unio.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=22 October 2024}} The pro-independence faction of the UDC split and established Democrats of Catalonia (DC), joining the CDC and Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), among others, to form Junts pel Sí (JxSí).{{cite news |last=Molina |first=Jordi |date=10 September 2015 |title=Tres Diadas y una metamorfosis de Artur Mas al independentismo |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/anos-salto-independentismo_1_2491004.html |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |location=Barcelona |access-date=22 October 2024}}

Ultimately, JxSí fell short of a majority in the election and the Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) forced Mas to step down, leading to the election of Carles Puigdemont as President of Catalonia. In 2016, CDC was re-founded into the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) in an attempt to distance itself from the corruption scandals involving CDC and elected Mas president of the party.{{cite news |last=Puente |first=Arturo |date=4 May 2017 |title=Siete síntomas que muestran que la refundación de Convergència en el PDECat no ha funcionado |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/fracaso-refundacion-convergencia_1_3420026.html |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |access-date=28 October 2024}}

The government of Puigdemont held the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, which culminated in the unilateral Declaration of independence of Catalonia and the removal of Puigdemont and his government, with the central government calling for an early election on 21 December.{{cite news |last1=Ponce de León |first1=Rodrigo |last2=Castro |first2=Irene |date=27 October 2017 |title=Rajoy cesa al Govern, disuelve el Parlament y convoca elecciones para el 21 de diciembre |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/rajoy-cesa-puigdemont-govern_1_3099615.html |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |access-date=29 October 2024}} Following the rupture of JxSí, the PDeCAT chose Puigdemont—who had chosen to self-exile himself in Belgium to escape from the Spanish judiciary—as their leading candidate. In November 2017, Puigdemont launched an electoral list under the name Together for Catalonia (JuntsxCat), comprising independents close to Puigdemont and members of the PDeCAT, but exluding the leadership of the party.{{cite news |date=13 November 2017 |title=Puigdemont encabezará una lista el 21-D bajo el nombre de 'Junts per Catalunya' |url=https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2017/11/13/5a09d80b468aeb6b328b467e.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Barcelona |access-date=29 October 2024}}

The election saw JuntsxCat becoming the main pro-independence force in the parliament, slightly ahead of ERC. The alliance's success in the election resulted in an increase of influence for Puigdemont within both the PDeCAT and the pro–Catalan independence camp,{{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=es |newspaper=El País|location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{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=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} but his establishment of the National Call for the Republic (CNxR) as a rallying force for pro-independence parties would not achieve the expected results.{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=16 July 2018 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20180716/puigdemont-torra-movimiento-politico-6944976|title=Puigdemont impulsa la Crida Nacional para superar instrumentos "caducos" |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Masreal|first1=Fidel|last2=Barrena |first2=Xabi |date=28 October 2018 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20181028/resisitencia-pacifica-para-forzar-el-referendum-objetivo-fundacional-de-la-crida-7115431 |title=ERC y la CUP se apartan de la Crida de Puigdemont por ser de derechas |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Noguer |first=Miquel |date=27 January 2019|url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/01/27/catalunya/1548615307_250184.html |title=El nuevo partido de Puigdemont no encuentra apoyos más allá de sus fieles |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=27 January 2019}} Concurrently, the PDeCAT registered the trademark of Together for Catalonia as a political party on 11 July 2018, associated with the JxCat alliance but with not separate political activity at the time.

From 2019, negotiations between the PDeCAT and Puigdemont's CNxR would ensue for the reorganization of the post-convergent space under the "Together for Catalonia" umbrella,{{cite news |date=14 December 2019|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/opinion/20191214/editorial-nuevo-paso-en-el-espacio-posconvergente-7775404 |title=Nuevo paso en el espacio posconvergente |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |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=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} but the former's insistence on refusing to dissolve itself as a party would lead to Puigdemont breaking ties with the PDeCAT and announcing the foundation of a new party on 2 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=es |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=9 July 2020}} with its founding congress starting telematically on 25 July and scheduled to last until 3 October.{{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=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} The new party's name, intending to make use of the "Together for Catalonia" label, sparked another conflict with the PDeCAT as the latter held the ownership rights over the 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=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya|location=Barcelona |access-date=9 July 2020}} Puigdemont's supporters within the PDeCAT took it over on 10 July by changing the registration data in the interior ministry 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=es |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=10 July 2020}}{{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=es|newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya|location=Barcelona |access-date=10 July 2020}} but the change did not affect the electoral coalition comprising the PDeCAT nor its electoral rights, which Puigdemont's party renounced to use.{{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=es |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=14 July 2020}}

The new party unveiled its logo and corporate identity on 18 July, presented by Elsa Artadi and Marta Madrenas.{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=19 July 2020 |url=https://www.niusdiario.es/nacional/politica/nuevo-partido-puigdemont-revela-identidad-junts-catalunya_18_2981220132.html |title=El nuevo partido de Puigdemont revela su identidad: Junts |language=es |newspaper=Nius Diario 1location=Barcelona |access-date=20 July 2020}} Joan Canadell, the president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, voiced his openness to collaborating with the new organization, although he claimed he did not see himself leading a future list at the ballots.{{cite news|agency=Agencias |date=19 July 2020 |url=https://www.segre.com/es/noticias/panorama/2020/07/19/junts_inicia_andadura_politica_sabado_con_congreso_telematico_110976_1106.html |title=Junts inicia su andadura política el sábado con un congreso telemático |publisher=Segre |location=Barcelona |access-date=19 July 2020}} Jordi Puigneró, incumbent regional minister of Digital Policies and Public Administration, had been also commented as a potential candidate for Junts in a future regional election in a list to be symbolically led by Puigdemont.{{cite news |last=González |first=David |date=8 July 2020 |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/encuesta-el-nacional-puigdemont-candidato-jxcat_520278_102.html |title=Puigdemont, candidato preferido para JxCat, con Puigneró o Canadell de segundo |language=es |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=19 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Anguera de Sojo|first=Iva |date=10 July 2020 |url=https://www.elindependiente.com/politica/2020/07/10/puignero-se-lanza-a-la-carrera-electoral-con-la-promesa-de-su-republica-digital/ |title=Puigneró se lanza a la carrera electoral con la promesa de su república digital |language=es |newspaper=El Independiente |access-date=19 July 2020}} The party was joined by Independence Rally (RI.cat) on 24 July, which broke the collaboration agreement under which it had been allied with CDC/PDeCAT since 2013.{{cite news |last=Segura Insa |first=Núria |date=15 November 2020 |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/reagrupament-da-pleno-apoyo-laura-borras-primarias-jxcat_556650_102.html |title=Reagrupament da su "pleno apoyo" a Borràs en las primarias JxCat |language=es |newspaper=El Nacional |location=Barcelona |access-date=7 December 2020}}

From 29 August onwards and starting with the party's five senators,{{cite news |date=29 August 2020 |url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-cinco-senadores-grupo-jxcat-dan-baja-pdecat-20200829234439.html |title=Los cinco senadores del grupo de JxCat se dan de baja del PDeCAT |language=es |publisher=Europa Press |location=Barcelona |access-date=31 August 2020}} members from the PDeCAT aligned with Puigdemont started defecting en masse from the former, in response to it announcing a formal lawsuit against Puigdemont for taking over the JxCat's brand,{{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=es |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=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia|location=Barcelona |access-date=31 August 2020}}{{cite news |last=Lamelas |first=Marcos |date=30 August 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200830/483178265680/puigdemont-pdecat-jxcat-junts-senadores.html |title=La ruptura del PDeCAT con Puigdemont da aire a Pedro Sánchez con los Presupuestos |language=es |newspaper=El Confidencial |location=Barcelona |access-date=31 August 2020}} with Puigdemont himself forfeiting his PDeCAT membership on 31 August.{{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=es |newspaper=eldiario.es |access-date=31 August 2020}}

The party's overall political stance was laid out in the manifestos launched by independents within the parliamentary Together for Catalonia (JxCat) together with several PDeCAT elected members during the final stages of the failed negotiations between the PDeCAT and Puigdemont.{{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=es |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=10 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Bou |first=Lluís |date=27 June 2020|title=Un manifiesto reclama hacer de JxCAT una organización, liderada por Puigdemont |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/manifiesto-jxcat-puigdemont_517794_102.html |language=es |newspaper=El Nacional|location=Barcelona|access-date=14 July 2020}} Aside of urging for the reorganization of the post-convergent space under the umbrella of "Together for Catalonia", the manifestos advocated for the defense of the right to self-determination, the unilateral enforcement of the "1 October commitment" to Catalan independence and a goal to "bring together the central current of Catalanism—today mostly pro-independence—with the articulation of a social, economic and modernizing agenda of a country small in size but large in aspirations", while advancing towards democratic souverainism, direct democracy and the fight against corruption.

One of the reasons cited for the breakup of negotiations between the PDeCAT and Puigdemont was on the issue of ideology, as the former—advocating for a project in the political centre ground—considered that Puigdemont's platform had drifted to the left-wing of the political spectrum in recent times.{{cite news |last=Masreal |first=Fidel |date=5 July 2020 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200705/causas-divorcio-carles-puigdemont-pdecat-8023598 |title=Las cinco causas del divorcio Puigdemont - PDECat |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |location=Barcelona |access-date=19 July 2020}}{{cite news|last=Gallego|first=Javier|date=19 July 2020 |url=https://www.larazon.es/cataluna/20200719/mxlxyyivlfai7bbqbmxl5t43l4.html |title=Puigdemont suaviza su órdago al PDeCat y evita una ruptura inminente |language=es |newspaper=La Razón |location=Barcelona |access-date=19 July 2020}} Paris Grau, associate professor of Political and Constitutional System in the University of Barcelona, commented on the new party promoted by Puigdemont by stating that, while it had been common for pro-independence parties to show different levels of support on the issue—ranging from unilateralism to more bilateral solutions inspired by the "Scottish way"—a new, unexpected situation was unveiling as "some of those [parties] who have been representative of the centre-right in Catalonia are increasingly revealing themselves more supportive of appealing to the centre-left or left-wing", in what he considered a clear move to dispute voters to Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC).{{cite news |last=Cañizares |first=María Jesús |date=3 July 2020 |url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/nuevo-partido-puigdemont-amenaza-victoria-erc_363801_102.html |title=El nuevo partido de Puigdemont, ¿una amenaza para la victoria de ERC? |language=es |newspaper=Crónica Global |access-date=19 July 2020}}

In an extraordinary assembly held on 19 July 2020, the small Action for the Republic party voted in favour of urging its members to "individually" join Junts and "actively participate in the process of constituting the new party", ideologically describing Junts as an organization "of progressive values, in the ideological big tent axis of [Catalonia's] centre-left majority, and decidedly republican".

Multiple sources refer to the party as being centre-right on the political spectrum.{{cite news |title=Catalan separatists projected to win majority in regional polls|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/14/catalan-separatists-set-to-win-majority-in-regional-elections|last=Redacción|date=14 February 2021|access-date=14 February 2021|work=Al Jazeera}}{{cite news |title=Catalonia's new president Pere Aragonés will ask Madrid for a referendum on independence|url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/21/catalonia-s-new-president-pere-aragones-will-ask-madrid-for-a-referendum-on-independence|last=Redacción|date=21 May 2021|access-date=21 May 2021|work=Euronews}} In 2022 and 2023, there have been a lesser number of sources that have called the party right-wing.{{cite news |date=14 October 2022 |title= Ruling pro-independence coalition parties in Catalonia split after ten years |url=https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/ruling-proindependence-coalition-20221014143949-ntvo.html |work= SUR in English |location= Barcelona |access-date= 31 July 2023}}

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Category:2020 establishments in Catalonia

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Category:Carles Puigdemont