Convergence and Union

"CiU" redirects here. For the British association of social clubs known as the CIU, see Working Men's Club and Institute Union.

Convergence and Union (Catalan: Convergència i Unió, CiU; IPA: [kumbəɾˈʒɛnsi.əj 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 18 June 2015.

Convergence and Union Convergència i Unió
Abbreviation	CiU
President	Artur Mas
General Secretary	Ramon Espadaler
Founded	19 September 1978 (1978-09-19) (coalition) 2 December 2001 (2001-12-02) (federation)
Dissolved	18 June 2015 (2015-06-18)
Preceded by	Democratic Pact for Catalonia Democracy and Catalonia
Succeeded by	Junts pel Sí
Headquarters	C/ Còrsega, 331-333 08037, Barcelona
Ideology	Catalan nationalism[1][2][3] Factions: Populism[4] Christian democracy[1][5][6] Liberalism[1][5] Conservatism[1][2][4] Catalan independentism[7] Social democracy[8][9]
Political position	Centre[10][4][11] to centre-right[16]
National affiliation	Galeusca (2004–2009) Coalition for Europe (2009–2014) Coalition for Europe (2014–2019)
European affiliation	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (CDC) European People's Party (UDC)
European Parliament group	ALDE Group (CDC) EPP Group (UDC)
International affiliation	Liberal International (CDC) Centrist Democrat International (UDC)
Colours	Dark blue (customary)   Orange (official)
Website
www.ciu.cat
Politics of Spain Political parties Elections

CiU was a Catalan nationalist coalition. During its lifespan, it was usually seen as a moderate nationalist party in Spain, although a significant part of its membership had shifted to open Catalan independentism during the party's last years, and by 2014 demonstrated its intention to hold a referendum on Catalan independence. There is some debate as to whether the coalition was conservative^[17] or centrist. Liberal tendencies dominate the larger CDC, while the smaller UDC is a Christian democratic party.^[18] 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 2012 regional elections, 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), which has a completely different political orientation but also supports Catalan independence. 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.^[19]

On 18 June 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.^[20]

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.^[21][22][23] Many high ranking exponents of the Democratic Convergence define CiU as an independentist political force.^[24][25][26] 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.^[27]

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.^[28] However, the supporters of independence within the Democratic Union are a minority with much less influence than their counterparts in the Democratic Convergence.^[29]

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% of the popular vote, earning 62 seats out of the total 135.^[30] 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 25 November 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.^[31] It is also the lowest percentage of the vote the coalition has scored since its formation in 1988.

Electoral performance

Parliament of Catalonia

Parliament of Catalonia
Election	Leading candidate	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Government
1980	Jordi Pujol	752,943	27.83 (#1)	43 / 135	—	Minority
1984		1,346,729	46.80 (#1)	72 / 135	29	Coalition (1984–1987)
						Majority (1987–1988)
1988		1,232,514	45.72 (#1)	69 / 135	3	Majority
1992		1,221,233	46.19 (#1)	70 / 135	1	Majority
1995		1,320,071	40.95 (#1)	60 / 135	10	Minority
1999		1,178,420	37.70 (#1)	56 / 135	4	Minority
2003	Artur Mas	1,024,425	30.94 (#1)	46 / 135	10	Opposition
2006		935,756	31.52 (#1)	48 / 135	2	Opposition
2010		1,202,830	38.43 (#1)	62 / 135	14	Minority
2012		1,116,259	30.71 (#1)	50 / 135	12	Minority

Cortes Generales

Nationwide

Cortes Generales
Election	Congress					Senate		Leading candidate	Status in legislature
	Votes	%	#	Seats	+/–	Seats	+/–
1979	483,353	2.69%	5th	8 / 350	5[a]	1 / 208	1[a]	Jordi Pujol	Opposition
1982	772,726	3.67%	5th	12 / 350	4	5 / 208	5	Miquel Roca	Opposition
1986	1,014,258	5.02%	4th	18 / 350	6	8 / 208	3	Miquel Roca	Opposition
1989	1,032,243	5.04%	5th	18 / 350	0	10 / 208	2	Miquel Roca	Opposition
1993	1,165,783	4.94%	4th	17 / 350	1	10 / 208	0	Miquel Roca	Confidence and supply
1996	1,151,633	4.60%	4th	16 / 350	1	8 / 208	2	Joaquim Molins	Confidence and supply
2000	970,421	4.19%	4th	15 / 350	1	8 / 208	0	Xavier Trias	Opposition
2004	835,471	3.23%	4th	10 / 350	5	4 / 208	4	Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida	Opposition
2008	779,425	3.03%	4th	10 / 350	0	4 / 208	0	Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida	Opposition
2011	1,015,691	4.17%	5th	16 / 350	6	9 / 208	5	Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida	Opposition

Regional breakdown

Election	Catalonia
	Congress					Senate
	Votes	%	#	Seats	+/–	Seats	+/–
1979	483,353	16.38%	4th	8 / 47	5[a]	1 / 16	1[a]
1982	772,726	22.48%	2nd	12 / 47	4	5 / 16	5
1986	1,014,258	32.00%	2nd	18 / 47	6	8 / 16	3
1989	1,032,243	32.68%	2nd	18 / 46	0	10 / 16	2
1993	1,165,783	31.82%	2nd	17 / 47	1	10 / 16	0
1996	1,151,633	29.61%	2nd	16 / 46	1	8 / 16	2
2000	970,421	28.79%	2nd	15 / 46	1	8 / 16	0
2004	835,471	20.78%	2nd	10 / 47	5	4 / 16	4
2008	779,425	20.93%	2nd	10 / 47	0	4 / 16	0
2011	1,015,691	29.35%	1st	16 / 47	6	9 / 16	5

European Parliament

European Parliament
Election	Total					Catalonia
	Votes	%	#	Seats	+/–	Votes	%	#
1987	853,603	4.43%	5th	3 / 60	—	843,322	27.82%	2nd
1989	666,602	4.20%	5th	2 / 60	1	655,339	27.53%	2nd
1994	865,913	4.66%	4th	3 / 64	1	806,610	31.50%	1st
1999	937,687	4.43%	4th	3 / 64	0	843,021	29.28%	2nd
2004	Within Galeusca			1 / 54	2	369,103	17.44%	3rd
2009	Within CEU			2 / 54	1	441,810	22.44%	2nd
2014	Within CEU			2 / 54	0	549,096	21.84%	2nd

See also

• List of political parties in Spain
• Autonomous Community

Notes

1. Compared to the combined totals of Democratic Pact for Catalonia and Union of the Centre and Christian Democracy of Catalonia in the 1977 general election.