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Catalan Alliance’s Rise Signals New Anti-Muslim Turn in Catalan Politics
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Catalan Alliance’s Surge Ahead of Snap Election
The newly formed far-right party Alianca Catalana (Catalan Alliance, AC) is rapidly gaining support in Catalonia, a wealthy region that will hold a snap regional election in November. Founded in the border town of Ripoll, AC combines Catalan independence with a hard-line stance on migration, portraying Islam as a societal threat.
Shift from Secession to Anti-Migration Politics (Background)
Almost a decade after the 2017 independence bid, anti-migration sentiment has eclipsed secession as the dominant issue among Catalan voters. The party draws on the 2017 Barcelona attack, claimed by ISIL, which killed 16 people, to fuel its anti-Muslim narrative. According to specialist Juan Ignacio Castien Maestro, Islamophobia has risen in Spain, linking Muslim migrants to housing shortages, unemployment and perceived insecurity.
Electoral Prospects and Demographic Context (Data & Statistics)
- Current representation: 2 seats in the Catalan parliament.
- El Mundo poll (September) projects AC winning 25-28 seats with 16.7 % of the vote, while the Socialists would fall to 23.3 % and 19-22 seats.
- Catalonia contributes roughly 20 % of Spain’s economy.
- Spain’s foreign-born population: one-fifth of nearly 50 million people, per the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE).
- Muslims in Spain: 2.4 million, the largest community residing in Catalonia (Union of Islamic Federations of Spain).
Reactions from Politicians, Experts, and the Muslim Community (Official Statements & Responses)
Muslim leaders expressed alarm.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All my friends support Catalan Alliance. There are too many migrants around now and Islam is a threat,” — Eduard Lopez
- “I am very scared. I fear for my parents and my two brothers who still live there. This racism affects all Muslims. It started after the 2017 attack in Barcelona.” — Ironically