In Alt Empordà, concern is growing over voter abstention ahead of the next municipal elections, due in about a year. In some localities, abstention is nearing 50%, according to an environmental consultant writing in L'Empordà.
The consultant says local political parties are already focused on candidate selection, list positions and campaign strategy, while other parts of political life are being neglected. That includes local debate and the training work that once helped parties build stronger links with members and councillors.
Historically, many parties ran training schools and held events to attract new affiliates. Today, the article says, those efforts are rare and often reduced to centralised weekend summer schools. The result, the consultant argues, is less political education and less room for independent local thinking.
The piece also criticises the way parties rely on weekly instructions from central executives, which keeps messaging tightly controlled. It says this can discourage local input, with the warning that, in practice, “whoever moves will not be in the photo”, meaning they may be left off the electoral list.
The consultant describes high abstention as a political emergency, but says it does not appear to be treated that way by local councils. The article argues that political education for citizens should be a priority, to strengthen democratic awareness and help people who feel neglected take part in public life.
With municipal elections approaching, the article warns that disengagement could lead to protest votes and unexpected results. For more local coverage, see our news page.
