RIPOLl, Catalonia – Sílvia Orriols, leader of Aliança Catalana, drew dozens of supporters to a paid podcast recording in Ripoll on Saturday. The event, a live recording of the 'La Catalunya woke' podcast at the Teatre Comtal, functioned as a political rally for the far-right leader.
Carles Borja, editor of e-notícies and a key figure in the media arm of the far-right, told the audience that "voters are now opting for common sense." Attendees, many travelling from cities such as Barcelona, Girona, Sabadell, and Terrassa, filled much of the theatre.
Orriols was greeted with chants of "Presidenta, Presidenta" and "Puta Espanya" (Fuck Spain). The audience, described as largely young, cheered her statements and reportedly booed when Borja mentioned Muslims. Supporters also chanted "Sílvia, Sílvia" during her interventions.
Orriols' growing influence
Orriols is widely expected to secure an absolute majority in Ripoll in next year's local elections, according to the source. Polls also predict her party could increase its representation in the Catalan parliament from two to 20 seats.
The 'La Catalunya woke' podcast uses cynical humour to introduce more serious topics. It openly links immigration with crime, calls for cuts to public spending, and targets transgender people. Arnau Borràs, the podcast's host, has transitioned from being part of Reus's pro-independence left, including a stint on a CUP electoral list and as a 15-M spokesperson, to becoming an agitator within the self-proclaimed "Catalan far-right sphere."
Borràs, along with journalist Guillem Bargalló, uses what the source describes as 'politically incorrect' jokes that have become mainstream. Borja, the most experienced member of the trio and previously linked to the PDECat party, provides the underlying ideological content. He told the more than 300 attendees that "voters are opting for common sense," arguing that a decade of left-wing policies, referred to as a "woke dictatorship," has led Catalonia to collapse.
Far-right obsessions discussed
Borja endorsed Orriols as the solution, telling her, "We encourage you to continue forward." He added, "Sooner rather than later, we hope to dismantle their 'chiringuito'" (slang for a corrupt setup).
The hour-long programme focused on common far-right obsessions, including criticisms of journalists from Nació, Ara, and Grup Barnils. Politicians such as Tània Verge, Najat Driouech, Janet Sanz, and the CUP were also targets. Orriols ironically stated, "I would have liked to share a group with them." Other topics included subsidies and public spending cuts.
This event highlights the growing public presence of Aliança Catalana and its media allies. The party's increasing support and the nature of these public gatherings suggest a continued push to normalise far-right discourse in Catalonia.
