The union Farmers’ Union (UP), which has been characterized by defending the pro-independence theses in the moments of most tension in Catalonia, has proclaimed this Friday the winner of the first agrarian elections in Catalonia held in virtual format with a total of 4,063 votes, which represents the 55.04% of the total. Next, the most voted groups have been JARC, with 2,226 votes (30.15%), Asaja, 821 votes (11.12%) and UPA, 190 votes (2.57%). The turnout was 35.83% of the total (7,382 votes), which represents 17% less than in the previous 2016 elections.
Participation in these elections in the field has been 35.83% (54% in 2016) and they have been held for the first time with an electronic voting system. The Unió de Pagesos has valued that the drop in participation is due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the pandemic, which have also forced the union to campaign with less direct contact with the electorate.
After knowing the results, the Unió de Pagesos has assured that it will use its strength to move forward with the demands of the sector before the Government of the Generalitat, which is to be constituted, the State Government and the European bodies. In Catalonia, the union demands a law that regulates the operation of fish markets and markets at source. For Unión de Campesinos, a decree law is also necessary to annul the additional obligations of the Fertilization Management Decree, to strictly adjust it to European obligations, as well as a law for the rescue of companies in crisis, since it is necessary to provide permanently effective instruments that help alleviate these situations with financing, de minimis aid and restructuring aid.
Given the progressive aging of the peasantry in Catalonia, which in 20 years has gone from 24.6% of farm owners aged 65 or over to a current 38.2%, the union wants the market to be regulated by law. land and the creation of an Autonomous Fund for Land and Agrarian Rights, to avoid speculation and hoarding, especially with non-agricultural activities, and which forces the owners of abandoned farms to have clean farms.
For its part, from JARC they have valued that it is the only agrarian organization that has grown compared to the past elections, at the same time that it has placed special emphasis on one point, and that is that legal entities should have had the same voting options than the physical ones, that is, to be able to vote also to the face-to-face points during the two electoral days.
According to Joan Carles Massot, president of JARC, these figures give new impetus to continue working for farmers and ranchers, for professional farmers and ranchers. “We will renew efforts to achieve our objective, that the Catalan countryside is attractive enough, a viable economic activity, and this will make it attractive because young people join.”, Adds Massot.
You can check the results by region at this link from the Department of Agriculture: http://gencat.cat/agricultura/resultats-eleccions-agraries/
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