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For a French Politician, Road to Political Comeback May Run Through Barcelona Manuel Valls, Ex-French Premier, Plots a Comeback ... in Barcelona
(about 17 hours later)
BARCELONA, Spain — Manuel Valls, a former prime minister of France who now finds himself largely on the sidelines there, has identified a path for a political rebound: as a potential candidate for mayor of Barcelona, Spain.BARCELONA, Spain — Manuel Valls, a former prime minister of France who now finds himself largely on the sidelines there, has identified a path for a political rebound: as a potential candidate for mayor of Barcelona, Spain.
Mr. Valls, who was born in Barcelona, told Spanish national television that he was considering a bid to take charge of the capital city of Catalonia, running as a candidate for the Ciudadanos party, which has emerged as the strongest bulwark against secessionism.Mr. Valls, who was born in Barcelona, told Spanish national television that he was considering a bid to take charge of the capital city of Catalonia, running as a candidate for the Ciudadanos party, which has emerged as the strongest bulwark against secessionism.
Spain has “a Constitution that is among the most democratic in the world, but there isn’t any possibility for Catalonia to get out of Spain,” said Mr. Valls, who was born to a Catalan father and a Swiss mother who eventually settled in France.Spain has “a Constitution that is among the most democratic in the world, but there isn’t any possibility for Catalonia to get out of Spain,” said Mr. Valls, who was born to a Catalan father and a Swiss mother who eventually settled in France.
Municipal elections will be held in Catalonia and across Spain next year, after a botched declaration of independence last year by the separatist parties that control Catalonia’s regional Parliament.Municipal elections will be held in Catalonia and across Spain next year, after a botched declaration of independence last year by the separatist parties that control Catalonia’s regional Parliament.
Mr. Valls, 55, was prime minister of France from 2014 to 2016 and was once seen as the main challenger and possible successor to former President François Hollande, but his hopes faltered when he lost in the primary elections of Mr. Hollande’s Socialist party and then refused to support the party’s chosen candidate.Mr. Valls, 55, was prime minister of France from 2014 to 2016 and was once seen as the main challenger and possible successor to former President François Hollande, but his hopes faltered when he lost in the primary elections of Mr. Hollande’s Socialist party and then refused to support the party’s chosen candidate.
Instead, he threw his support behind the new party formed by Emmanuel Macron, who was later elected president, and Mr. Valls won re-election to the French Parliament as an independent lawmaker.Instead, he threw his support behind the new party formed by Emmanuel Macron, who was later elected president, and Mr. Valls won re-election to the French Parliament as an independent lawmaker.
Albert Rivera, the leader of the Ciudadanos party, told a party conference that Mr. Valls could be one of several outsiders drafted in next year, saying, “We need talent.” The candidacy of Mr. Valls would be that of “a convinced democrat and friend of Spain in the midst of the crisis of Catalan separatism,” Mr. Rivera said.Albert Rivera, the leader of the Ciudadanos party, told a party conference that Mr. Valls could be one of several outsiders drafted in next year, saying, “We need talent.” The candidacy of Mr. Valls would be that of “a convinced democrat and friend of Spain in the midst of the crisis of Catalan separatism,” Mr. Rivera said.
Some recent polls also suggest that Ciudadanos, which was founded a decade ago in Catalonia on an anti-secession platform, would win a national election if one were held now.Some recent polls also suggest that Ciudadanos, which was founded a decade ago in Catalonia on an anti-secession platform, would win a national election if one were held now.
The party is also leading some polls in the Madrid region, where the president of the regional government, Cristina Cifuentes, once seen as a potential successor to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, has resisted calls from Ciudadanos and other parties to resign after being accused of fraudulently obtaining her master’s degree.The party is also leading some polls in the Madrid region, where the president of the regional government, Cristina Cifuentes, once seen as a potential successor to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, has resisted calls from Ciudadanos and other parties to resign after being accused of fraudulently obtaining her master’s degree.
In December, pro-independence parties retained their narrow majority in the Catalan Parliament in a snap election called by Mr. Rajoy. Mr. Rajoy’s Popular Party came last in the vote, while Ciudadanos emerged as the largest single party.In December, pro-independence parties retained their narrow majority in the Catalan Parliament in a snap election called by Mr. Rajoy. Mr. Rajoy’s Popular Party came last in the vote, while Ciudadanos emerged as the largest single party.
Catalonia is now caught in a political deadlock, which will lead to a new election if separatist parties fail to form a new administration next month.Catalonia is now caught in a political deadlock, which will lead to a new election if separatist parties fail to form a new administration next month.
Under Spanish law, residents who are citizens of another European country can vote — and run for office — in municipal elections, as long as they meet the local standard for residency, but separatist politicians attacked Ciudadanos for trying to parachute Mr. Valls into the top job in Barcelona.Under Spanish law, residents who are citizens of another European country can vote — and run for office — in municipal elections, as long as they meet the local standard for residency, but separatist politicians attacked Ciudadanos for trying to parachute Mr. Valls into the top job in Barcelona.
Neus Munté, a Catalan politician who backs secession, told local reporters that “a candidate for City Hall must feel the city of Barcelona as if it were his — and somebody who hasn’t lived in it for many years cannot know its reality and what worries citizens.”Neus Munté, a Catalan politician who backs secession, told local reporters that “a candidate for City Hall must feel the city of Barcelona as if it were his — and somebody who hasn’t lived in it for many years cannot know its reality and what worries citizens.”
Mr. Valls, she added, “cannot connect from Paris with the needs of the people of Barcelona.”Mr. Valls, she added, “cannot connect from Paris with the needs of the people of Barcelona.”
The issue of Catalan independence has split the region, with separatist parties falling short of a majority of votes and gaining most of their support in smaller towns in the countryside rather in Barcelona.The issue of Catalan independence has split the region, with separatist parties falling short of a majority of votes and gaining most of their support in smaller towns in the countryside rather in Barcelona.
The mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has not commented about the possible candidacy of Mr. Valls, but the choice was questioned by Xavier García Albiol, the leader of Mr. Rajoy’s party in Catalonia.The mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has not commented about the possible candidacy of Mr. Valls, but the choice was questioned by Xavier García Albiol, the leader of Mr. Rajoy’s party in Catalonia.
“If he thinks that a city hall is there to continue an identity debate, he is wrong,” Mr. García Albiol wrote on Twitter. “A city hall is there to solve the real problems of neighbors.”“If he thinks that a city hall is there to continue an identity debate, he is wrong,” Mr. García Albiol wrote on Twitter. “A city hall is there to solve the real problems of neighbors.”