Convergence and Union

This article is about the CiU. For CIU (note capitalisation), see Working Men's Club and Institute Union.

Convergence and Union Convergència i Unió
President	Artur Mas
General Secretary	Ramon Espadaler
Founded	19 September 1978 (coalition) 2 December 2001 (federation)
Dissolved	17 June 2015
Headquarters	C/Còrsega, 331-333 08037 Barcelona
Ideology	Catalan nationalism, Centrism Internal factions:  • Populism  • Christian democracy,  • Liberalism  • Conservatism  • Catalan independentism  • Social democracy
Political position	Centre-right
European affiliation	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (CDC), European People's Party (UDC)
International affiliation	Liberal International (CDC), Centrist Democrat International (UDC)
European Parliament group	ALDE (CDC)
Colours	Orange (official)      Dark blue (customary)
Town councillors in Catalonia	3,333 / 9,077
Website
www.ciu.cat
Politics of Spain Political parties Elections

Convergence and Union (Catalan: Convergència i Unió, CiU; IPA: [kumbərˈʒɛnsiə j uniˈo]) was a Catalan nationalist electoral alliance in Catalonia, Spain. It was a federation of two constituent parties, the larger Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) and its smaller counterpart, the Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC). It was dissolved on June 17, 2015.

CiU was a Catalan nationalist coalition. It was usually seen as a moderate nationalist party in Spain, although a significant part of its membership had shifted to open Catalan independentism in recent years and in 2014 demonstrated its intention to hold a referendum on Catalan independence. There is some debate as to whether the coalition was conservative or centrist. Liberal tendencies dominate the larger CDC, while the smaller UDC is a Christian democratic party. As for its position in the nationalist debate, it was deliberately ambiguous so as to appeal to the broadest spectrum possible, from voters who seek full independence from Spain to those who are generally satisfied with the present self-government status. In general, the CDC tends to be more supportive of Catalan sovereignty, while the UDC is considered closer to traditional Catalan autonomism and more nuanced nationalism. The electoral manifesto for the elections in 2012 states that "we want to build a wide social majority so that Catalonia can have its own State in the European frame, because Catalonia has the will to become a normal country among world's countries and nations".

In the most recent regional elections, held on 25 September 2012, CiU won 30.71% of the vote. It lost 12 seats in the Catalan Parliament, bringing them to a total of 50 deputies. While they have more than twice as many deputies as any other party, they were left 18 seats short of a majority in the 135-member body. After the election, they entered into coalition with the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). El Periódico de Catalunya reported in August 2013 that the coalition may break apart due to fractions within the union about Catalan independence, with UDC opposing secessionism.

On June 18, 2015, CDC spokespersons declared the CiU federation "finished", albeit amenable to an "amicable" separation. This occurred after an ultimatum had been issued by President Mas to UDC, due to their diverging positions on the Catalan independence process.

Policies and ideology

CiU used to defend the notion of Catalonia as a nation within Spain, striving for the highest possible level of autonomy for Catalonia. However, it has recently become a pro-secession party.

CiU is generally considered a Catalan nationalist party; this is also the term it uses to describe itself. Both the Spanish and Catalan media perceive it as a moderate nationalist force. However, its liberal fraction (CDC) has a relatively strong current which advocates Catalan independence from Spain and which has grown stronger after 2006. Many high ranking exponents of the Democratic Convergence define CiU as an independentist political force. The party's president Artur Mas has stated he would vote in favour of Catalan independence in a theoretical referendum of independence, but he added this would not be his official policy if elected as President of Catalonia.

On the other hand, the Christian democratic part of the coalition, the Democratic Union of Catalonia, is less favourable to the idea of an independent Catalonia. Nevertheless, several prominent members of the Democratic Union have also supported independence, especially since the late 2000s. However, the supporters of independence within the Democratic Union are a minority with much less influence than their counterparts in the Democratic Convergence.

Terms of office

At the Catalan level, CiU ruled the autonomous Catalan government during the 1980s until 2003 for 23 consecutive years led by Jordi Pujol (CDC). Pujol was succeeded in the party leadership by Artur Mas (CDC), while Unió's leader (second at the CiU level) is Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida. It then served in opposition to a tripartite centre-left government of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) until November 2010, when it regained power (but lacking an overall majority, still needing a coalition partner).

2008 General Elections

The party won 10 seats in the Congress of Deputies at the March 2008 elections.

CiU supported changes to the Catalan Statute of Autonomy to further increase Catalonia's autonomy. It is currently the most voted party at regional elections in Catalonia, but in 2003 lost its absolute majority and is the main opposition party at the Catalan autonomous level, having been replaced in the government by a centre-left tripartite coalition formed in 2003 and re-formed after the 2006 Catalan regional elections, which were called due to divisions in the coalition.

2010 Catalan elections

On Sunday, 28 November 2010 (28-N) CiU regained control of the regional parliament after seven years in opposition, winning about 38 per cent of the popular vote, earning 62 seats out of the total 135. Its platform was broadly centrist, and somewhat ambiguous about independence from Spain.

In the 2010 elections the turnout was just above 60%, and the Socialists' Party of Catalonia were considered the biggest losers, holding only 28 seats of their former 37. All other parties lost support, as well, except the liberal-conservative People's Party of Catalonia, which increased its support by 1.5%, and the liberal Citizens' Party which maintained their position.

2012 Catalan elections

On Sunday, November 25, 2012 CiU maintained its control of the regional parliament by winning approximately 30 per cent of the popular vote and earning 50 seats of the total 135. This represents a drop in voter support since the 2010 election, with voter turn-out for the 2012 election at approximately 70%, or the highest since 1998. It is also the lowest percentage of the vote the coalition has scored since its formation in 1988.

Election results

Parliament of Catalonia

Parliament of Catalonia
Election	Votes	%	Seats won	Government	Leader
1980	754,448	27.8	43 / 135	Minority gov't	Jordi Pujol
1984	1,346,917	46.8	72 / 135	Coalition gov't	Jordi Pujol
1988	1,232,514	45.7	69 / 135	Majority gov't	Jordi Pujol
1992	1,221,233	46.2	70 / 135	Majority gov't	Jordi Pujol
1995	1,320,071	40.9	60 / 135	Minority gov't	Jordi Pujol
1999	1,178,420	37.7	56 / 135	Minority gov't	Jordi Pujol
2003	1,024,425	30.9	46 / 135	Opposition	Artur Mas
2006	935,756	31.5	48 / 135	Opposition	Artur Mas
2010	1,202,830	38.4	62 / 135	Minority gov't	Artur Mas
2012	1,116,259	30.7	50 / 135	Minority gov't	Artur Mas

Congress of Deputies

Congress of Deputies
Election	Spain			Catalonia			Government	Candidate
	Votes	%	Seats won	Votes	%	Seats won
1979	483,353	2.7	8 / 350	483,353	16.4	8 / 47	Opposition	Jordi Pujol
1982	772,726	3.7	12 / 350	772,726	22.5	12 / 47	Opposition	Miquel Roca
1986	1,014,258	5.0	18 / 350	1,014,258	32.0	18 / 47	Opposition	Miquel Roca
1989	1,032,243	5.0	18 / 350	1,032,243	32.7	18 / 46	Opposition	Miquel Roca
1993	1,165,783	4.9	17 / 350	1,165,783	31.8	17 / 47	Gov't support	Miquel Roca
1996	1,151,633	4.6	16 / 350	1,151,633	29.6	16 / 46	Gov't support	Joaquim Molins
2000	970,421	4.2	15 / 350	970,421	28.8	15 / 46	Opposition	Xavier Trias
2004	835,471	3.2	10 / 350	835,471	20.8	10 / 47	Opposition	Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida
2008	779,425	3.0	10 / 350	779,425	20.9	16 / 46	Gov't support	Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida
2011	1,015,691	4.2	16 / 350	1,015,691	29.3	16 / 47	Opposition	Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida

Local councils

Local councils
Election	Spain			Catalonia			Leader
	Votes	%	Seats won	Votes	%	Seats won
1979	504,832	3.1	1,756 / 67,505	504,832	19.0	1,756 / 8,223	Jordi Pujol
1983	747,677	4.2	3,215 / 67,312	747,677	25.6	3,215 / 8,199	Jordi Pujol
1987	1,004,115	5.2	4,350 / 65,577	1,004,115	33.0	4,350 / 8,186	Jordi Pujol
1991	915,291	4.9	4,360 / 66,308	915,291	33.4	4,360 / 8,328	Jordi Pujol
1995	973,498	4.4	4,240 / 65,869	973,498	30.1	4,240 / 8,426	Jordi Pujol
1999	774,074	3.6	4,089 / 65,201	774,074	26.5	4,089 / 8,497	Jordi Pujol
2003	789,871	3.4	3,687 / 65,510	789,871	24.3	3,687 / 8,690	Jordi Pujol
2007	723,325	3.3	3,387 / 66,131	723,325	25.2	3,387 / 8,932	Artur Mas
2011	778,551	3.5	3,865 / 68,230	778,551	27.1	3,865 / 9,132	Artur Mas
2015	668,892	3.0	3,333 / 67,611	668,892	21.5	3,333 / 9,069	Artur Mas

See also

• List of political parties in Spain
• Autonomous Community

External links

• Convergència i Unió web site