Democratic Convergence of Catalonia

Democratic Convergence of Catalonia
Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya
President Artur Mas i Gavarró
Secretary Josep Rull i Andreu, Lluís Corominas i Díaz
Founded 17 November 1974
Headquarters C/Còrsega, 331
08002 Barcelona
Ideology Catalan nationalism[1][2]
Liberalism[1][3]
Conservatism[1]
Centrism[4]
Social democracy (minority)[5][6][7]
Political position Centre-right
European affiliation Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
International affiliation Liberal International
European Parliament group Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Colours          Blue, white
Parliament of Catalonia
29 / 135

In Together for Yes[8]

Website
www.convergencia.cat/

The Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (Catalan: Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya, CDC; IPA: [kumbərˈʒɛnsiə ðəmuˈkɾatikə ðə kətəˈɫuɲə]) is a Catalan nationalist,[1][2] pro-independence and liberal[1][3] party in Catalonia (Spain). Together with the Democratic Union of Catalonia, they formed the Convergence and Union (CiU) coalition until its breakup, in June 2015. CDC is affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party and with the Liberal International. Between the early 1980s and early 2000s, it was the main ruling party in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia. Jordi Pujol i Soley was regional president of Catalonia for 23 years. Artur Mas i Gavarró is the leader of CDC. After spending 7 years in opposition, it returned to power in the 2010 parliamentary elections.

It is the largest political organization in the autonomous community of Catalonia (Spain), with more than 60,000 members.

It describes itself as Catalan nationalist, and takes more or less the position of a centre social liberal party in Catalan politics. During the decade of the late 70s and 80s it claimed a social-democratic strand within its ranks, namely personified in militants such as Ramon Trias Fargas or Miquel Sellarès.

The President of Democratic Convergence of Catalonia is Artur Mas i Gavarró, and its General Secretary is Josep Rull i Andreu i Jordi Turull i Negre.

The section of CDC in the Occitan-speaking Val d'Aran is known as the Aranese Democratic Convergence.

In the press and in the media, it is frequently called just Convergència, and its members are known as convergents in Catalan and convergentes in Spanish.

In the Spanish general election, 2015, the party will be member of the Democracy and Freedom coalition.[9]

Ideology and policies

CDC is usually considered as a Catalan nationalist party; this is also the term it uses to describe itself. The Spanish media perceive it as a moderate nationalist force. However, CDC has a current which advocated Catalan independence from Spain. This current has grown stronger after 2006. The main exponents of the independentist current within CDC are Felip Puig,[10][11] Oriol Pujol,[12][13] David Madí,[14] and Àngel Colom.[15] The party's president Artur Mas has stated he would vote in favor of Catalan independence in a theoretical referendum of independence, but he added this would not be his official policy if elected as President of Catalonia.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Dowling, Andrew (2005), "Convergència i Unió, Catalonia and the new Catalanism", The Politics of Contemporary Spain (Rotledge), p. 106
  2. 1 2 Ramiro, Luis; Morales, Laura (2007), "European integration and Spanish parties: Elite empowerment amidst limited adaptation", The Europeanization of National Political Parties: Power and organizational adaptation (Routledge), p. 145
  3. 1 2 "Parties and Elections in Europe, "Catalonia/E", The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck". Parties & Elections. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Smith, Angel (2009), Historical Dictionary of Spain, Scarecrow Press, p. 199
  5. ↑ Perfil: Puigdemont, el ala más independentista de CDC
  6. ↑ Mas vira hacia la socialdemocracia a las puertas del 27-S con su nuevo Gobierno.
  7. ↑ El sector liberal planta batalla a la socialdemocràcia de la nova CDC.
  8. ↑ Así se reparten las fuerzas entre los diputados de Junts pel Sí
  9. ↑ "CDC concurrirá a las generales bajo el nombre de Democràcia i Llibertat". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
  10. ↑ http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100827/53990327112/felip-puig-la-independencia-de-catalunya-solo-sera-posible-a-traves-de-ciu.html
  11. ↑ http://politica.e-noticies.es/el-ultimo-deseo-de-felip-puig-es-la-independencia-31662.html
  12. ↑ http://www.vozbcn.com/2010/08/27/30427/pujol-cataluna-gran-murcia/
  13. ↑ http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3755946/20100719/oriol-pujol-aclareix-ciu-independentista.html
  14. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcMtYa_TB9k
  15. ↑ http://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/17862
  16. ↑ http://www.lavozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/146082/artur-mas-votaria-si-en-un-referendum-sobre-la-independencia-de-cataluna

External links

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