Dossier
Spanish election 2015: the Catalan Countries and Aragon
Catalan parties not dependent on Spain-wide parties are running for election in four different lists. Two of the lists are explicitly pro-independence: centre-left ERC and centre-right Democracy and Freedom -a coalition made up of CDC, Reagrupament and Democrats of Catalonia. Both lists argue voting for them will help strengthen the current political process towards the establishment of a Catalan state, which is now pending negotiations at the Catalan Parliament level between big-tent alliance Together for Yes (includes ERC and Democracy and Freedom) with democratic socialist CUP (which is not running for the Spanish election).
The other two lists are demanding the recognition of Catalonia as a nation within a revamped Spanish state. Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC, Christian Democrat) is seeking to secure at least one seat after they were left with no MPs in the Sep 27 Catalan election. On the other side, leftist alliance En Comú Podem (made up by five parties: Spain-wide Podemos, IU and Equo, plus Catalan parties ICV and Barcelona En Comú) is advocating a referendum on Catalan self-determination, and suggesting they would favour a settlement for a plurinational, plurilingual Spain under a new agreement "among free and equal peoples," including the Catalan people.
According to opinion polls, four parties could be emerging as the largest one in Catalonia: ERC, Democracy and Freedom, En Comú Podem and Spanish nationalist Citizens (C's). Surveys say all four parties could be winning 6 to 11 seats each. UDC could either be securing 1 seat or being left with none. En Comú Podem seeks to have its own group in the Congress, independent from the Podemos group.
Valencian Country
The largest Valencian-centered party, centre-left Compromís, decided to run for election under a joint alliance with Podemos under the És El Moment banner. Their manifesto says the Valencian Country should be granted enlarged autonomy within Spain -including a new tax deal with the Spanish authorities. The document also speaks about equality between all Spain's languages, including Catalan -the language spoken in most of the Valencian Country.
Pro-independence Valencian groups have agreed to run under a new alliance, Ara País Valencià, made up by ERC's sister party in Valencia (ERPV), Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) and the Greens of the Valencian Country.
Finally, Valencian soft autonomists or regionalists -that is, parties who believe the Valencian Country should continue to be considered a part of one single Spanish nation- are running under three different lists: Som Valencians, Avant and En Positiu. The first two are calling for an economic agreement that grants the Valencian Country extensive powers over tax collection. They also deem -against scientific evidence- that Valencian and Catalan are not the same language, and demand protection for the former.
Surveys suggest that PP will again be the strongest party in the Valencian Country, albeit losing almost half of its MPs. The second place will be contested by PSOE, Citizens and És El Moment -6 to 8 seats each. No other list will be winning seats.
Balearic Islands
The islands' pro-sovereignty left runs under one single list, Més, which aims to win a seat for its first time ever in the Spanish Congress. Its manifesto suggests turning Spain into an officially plurinational state where the Balearic Islands enjoy greater autonomy, including a new economic agreement under which the insular government would raise all taxes.
Centre-right autonomist party Proposal for the Islands (El PI) is also contesting the election. This party too seeks a new economic agreement, and wants further powers devolved to the Balearic government.
Polls say Més could be either capturing one seat or being left with none, while El PI has almost no chance of having one MP elected.
Aragon
The main Aragonese national party, the Chunta (CHA), has formed an electoral alliance with Spain's United Left (IU) under the Popular Unity (UP) banner. Number 2 of the alliance in Zaragoza province and number 1 in Huesca are CHA members. UP says Spain should become an officially plurinational and federal state. Aragon should be granted a new economic agreement, the alliance argues.
Meanwhile, regionalist party PAR is again running under a joint alliance with PP. A small, regionalist federation of local parties and individuals (FIA) is also running for election. In the Huesca province, citizen platform Ahora Alto Aragón En Común has agreed on a joint alliance with Podemos.
CHA, Ahora Alto Aragón and FIA have little chance to have one of their candidates elected, according to polls.