Group of Socialist politicians resigns in Girona over party line on referendum

The president of the Federation of the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) in Girona and nine other PSC politicians in the city have resigned from their posts in protest at the party’s line on the drive for independence underway in the Catalonia region.

The resignation of the members of the PSC leadership in the city was announced on Tuesday by two of the group: Pia Bosch, the Socialist leader in Girona city council, and Manel Nadal. The federation president, Joaquim Nadal, resigned via a letter on Sunday.

The group of PSC politicians has said they will not be leaving the party, but are standing down because they are in favor of the drive by regional premier Artur Mas for a referendum on independence to be held in the region this year. The central government in Madrid is fiercely opposed to such a vote taking place. What’s more, the national Socialist Party (PSOE) has just agreed with the PSC leadership that they will not be debating the independence question in the upcoming campaign ahead of European elections in May, in order to avoid disagreement over a hugely thorny issue.

The national Socialist Party has agreed with the PSC that they will not be debating the independence question

Manel Nadal, who until his resignation occupied the role of secretary for citizens and society within the PSC leadership, said the party “should join forces with social movements and incorporate people who defend the national progress of Catalonia,” arguing that citizens “don’t know who to vote for in terms of a leftist party,” and that the PSC should take on that role.

The PSC leader, Pere Navarro, has embarked on a campaign in a number of areas of Catalonia, in an effort to seek consensus among critical sectors that are in favor of the region’s right to decide on its future. The party has lost hundreds of supporters since it openly distanced itself from the drive for independence.