Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) in Santa Coloma de Gramenet has launched a new civic platform, 'Estimem Santa Coloma' (We Love Santa Coloma), to expand its base and attract left-wing voters. This move aims to prevent the Socialist Party (PSC), led by Mayor Mireia González, from retaining its absolute majority in the 2027 municipal elections. The platform is a local initiative following Gabriel Rufián's resignation as local leader in January 2025.
The local ERC section, now led by mayoral candidate Sam Núñez, hopes to replicate the success of municipalist candidacies seen in other Catalan cities. For example, SOM Gramenet secured six councillors in Santa Coloma in 2015, while Dolors Sabater capitalised on left-wing votes in Badalona, and Ada Colau unseated Xavier Trias in Barcelona. Núñez, who led ERC to three council seats in Santa Coloma in 2019 and four in 2023, believes the platform can draw new support.
'Estimem Santa Coloma' has already attracted around 160 signatories, including residents involved in education, sport, and elderly care. Núñez clarified that the platform is not against the current PSC government, but rather aims for ERC to govern. He stated, "If we achieve just one more vote than in 2023, it will have been worth it."
ERC's Strategy and Past Successes
ERC has previously used a similar civic platform model, with a neutral narrative that avoids overt independence symbolism, in smaller municipalities. In Sant Vicenç dels Horts and Sant Andreu de la Barca, this approach proved successful. Notably, Marc Giribet of ERC became mayor of Sant Andreu de la Barca in 2023, ending four decades of Socialist leadership. However, in Sant Vicenç dels Horts, where Oriol Junqueras served as mayor from 2011 to 2015, the Socialist Miguel Comino Haro retained the mayoralty.
Santa Coloma de Gramenet has been under Socialist leadership continuously since 1991, with mayors including Manuela de Madre, Bartomeu Muñoz, Núria Parlon, and Mireia González. Despite the new platform, ERC remains firm on retaining its party brand. Núñez confirmed, "ERC will be on the ballot paper, that's for sure," even if the platform eventually adopts a name like 'Fem Santa Coloma' (Let's Make Santa Coloma), as similar initiatives did in Sant Vicenç and Sant Andreu.
Reaching Out to Other Left-Wing Parties
Núñez has extended an invitation to Comuns and CUP to join the collective, highlighting ERC's current advantage with four councillors in Santa Coloma, while the other parties currently have no representation. However, both Comuns and CUP are hesitant about forming a united left-wing front.
Rosa Perea, the Comuns mayoral candidate, told El Periódico that her party intends to run under its own brand in the next municipal elections. She believes the platform's objectives are "far from being shared by the left-wing parties" in Santa Coloma. Perea did acknowledge that Comuns shares "the concern of progressive people in the city about the advance of the far right," an argument ERC uses to encourage a joint alternative. She added that "the will for dialogue is part of our party's historical tradition."
Aitor Blanc, spokesperson for CUP, also expressed reservations, stating, "We do not feel addressed, and no one has officially communicated with us." The former Santa Coloma councillor noted that they do not currently see a "socially transformative programme" in ERC's proposal. Blanc said, "We cannot aspire to be the PSC's crutch or to replace them to do the same thing they do."
In the 2023 municipal elections, the PSC, then led by Núria Parlon, secured an absolute majority with 17 out of 27 councillors, receiving 20,250 votes. ERC, under Rufián, obtained 5,880 votes and four councillors. The remaining seats were divided between Ciutadans (2), PP (2), and Vox (2). ERC now seeks to engage the social fabric of Santa Coloma to reduce the significant gap with the Socialists. Núñez concluded, "Without a fatalistic message: it is not true that everything is bad in this city, but we do think things can be done better." The campaign for the 23 May 2027 elections in Santa Coloma has now started.
