Far-right party rakes in ballots on xenophobia platform

Campaigning on a hard line for immigration control, the far-right party Plataforma per Catalunya (PxC) quadrupled on Sunday its number of councilors in Barcelona. The controversial PxC also continued to cultivate its major strongholds, including in Vic, where Josep Anglada's party has become the second largest political force with six councilors.

"No one can stop us now," said Anglada after learning about Sunday's results. In neighboring Manlleu, PxC became the third largest force after it captured three seats on the council. In El Vendrell and Salt, where there have been confrontations between PxC supporters and pro-immigrant groups, the PxC also won three and four council seats respectively.

Anglada's PxC party, an offshoot of the far-right New Force, released a controversial campaign video showing two girls walking leisurely through the streets in what is described as 2011. The video then fast-forwards to 2050 and two girls are seen jumping rope while wearing burqas.

But the xenophobia campaign seemed to work in many areas in Catalonia. Anglada's anti-immigration stance has attracted some 67,000 votes and 67 seats on different councils, including in places like L'Hospitalet and Santa Coloma de Gramenet.