The creation of the electoral lists in the political space led by exiled Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has become a real obstacle course, in view of the permanent battle waged by the leadership of the PDeCAT (Catalan European Democratic Party), which wants a more active role and a greater presence of its affiliates in the lists. The party that was born to replace the Catalan centre-right party of Convergència Democràtica is engaged in a real pitched battle, between the leaders most in favour of delivering all power to Puigdemont and those who strive for a die-hard defence of the old essences and, in turn, are against the most radical pro-independence positions.
In this context, the PDeCAT is doing nothing but internal blood-letting week after week, while the knives that come out to win positions appear first on one side of the negotiation table and then the other. This Saturday saw another episode with the creation of lists for the Spanish Congress of Deputies covering the four Catalan constituencies. The four heads of the candidatures, to be headed by prisoners and exiles, were not questioned - Sànchez (Barcelona), Turull (Lleida), Rull (Tarragona) and Lluís Puig (Girona) - but rather the effective places on the lists.
In the case of Barcelona, for example, it was about whether the seats in Congress would be filled by Laura Borràs and Míriam Nogueras, only the second of whom is a PDeCAT member and even she is critical of the current leadership. These two names are very close to Puigdemont, and that bothers leaders like David Bonvehí, president of the party and who could resign very soon. Of those who have a long background in the post-Convergència organization, only Ferran Bel in Tarragona has a place with options to be chosen.
Although the party's national council might seek to resolve the crisis with its decision this Sunday, it will not take the knives off the table. The victims of the lists don't seem willing to accept that. And on the horizon, in addition, is a forced remodelling of the Catalan government, since in addition to the naming of the presidency minister, Elsa Artadi, to accompany Quim Forn in the battle for the Barcelona mayoralty, minister Borràs has also been added to the list for Madrid.
Giulio Andreotti, seven times prime minister of Italy, was not wrong when he said that in life there are intimate friends, acquaintances, adversaries, enemies, deadly enemies and... party colleagues.