Pro-independence, left-wing party CUP will hold an extraordinary political council to decide how its four parliamentary deputies will vote in the investiture debate for presidential candidate Quim Torra. The party's territorial assemblies in Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès and Camp de Tarragona have called for the meeting and asked for it to reconsider the decision to abstain on voting for the candidate. CUP as a party places a strong emphasis on local politics and members participating in decision making. As such, if three territorial assemblies ask for it, the political council has to convene.
If the party decides in the end to vote no, even in the second round, Torra will not get enough votes to be invested president. The other pro-independence parties, JxCat and ERC have 66 votes between them, whilst Cs, PPC, PSC, CeC-P and CUP have 69. If CUP abstain the vote becomes 66-65, giving the other pro-independence parties the simple majority they would need in the second round. The party have not yet set a date for the meeting, but sources tell the Catalan News Agency that Sunday is the most likely option. In any case, they need to reach a decision before the second round vote, which will take place on Monday.
Tres territorials @cupnacional demanen un debat i com a organització assembleària que aposta perquè les decisions siguin col·lectives el farem amb normalitat. Escoltar-nos. La forma com es fa política és també important.
— lluc salellas i vilar (@llsalellasvilar) 11 de mayo de 2018
Translation: "Three territorial assemblies of CUP are asking for a debate and, as an assembly-based organisation which backs taking decisions collectively, we will do so as normal. Listening to each other. The way you do politics is important too." Lluc Salellas is a member of CUP's national secretariat and councillor in Girona.
Escoltar i escoltar-nos. Debatre. Aprofundir. Entre totes posar-hi les mans i el cap amb respecte per tothom.
— Eulàlia Reguant Cura (@aramateix) 11 de mayo de 2018
"Listening and listening to each other. Debating. Delving into [it]. Between all of us, putting our hands and heads [to work on the issue] with respect for everyone." Eulàlia Reguant is a former parliamentary deputy and current member of CUP's national secretariat and a councillor in Barcelona.
L'assemblearisme implica debat, i si 3 Assemblees Territorials de la @cupnacional el sol•liciten, doncs el fem. Amb total normalitat i transparència.
— Mireia Boya Busquet (@yeyaboya) 11 de mayo de 2018
"Assemblyism means debate, and if 3 Territorial Assemblies of CUP request it, we do it. Completely normally and transparently." Mireia Boya is a former parliamentary deputy and current member of CUP's national secretariat.
So far, the party has maintained their abstention towards all candidates who are not Carles Puigdemont himself and whilst there is not a "rupturist and republican" government manifesto.