About a thousand people filled the streets of Ripoll this Sunday to protest against the extreme right and the policies of the municipal government of Sílvia Orriolswhich they described as “persecution of dissent.” The demonstration, called by the La Metxa popular club, took place after the City Council issued a notice of temporary closure of the space, considered a “risk for security and coexistence” in the city.
This order has not been the only controversy that fueled the protest. The protesters also denounced other practices that they consider abusive and that have been deployed throughout the mandate, such as the “arbitrary fines” directed at people critical of Aliança Catalana (AC) that governs alone in Ripoll, Islamophobia in Orriols’ speeches , and the administrative difficulties that, they say, hinder registration.
Omar Elabdalia member of the Moroccan Youth Association of Ripollès, considers that the mayor has exercised “controversial and restrictive” at the head of the council since he took office in June 2023. According to him, the measures he has implemented “are neither inclusive nor fair”, but rather seem aimed at “limiting rights, impose a personal agenda and restrict the freedom of those who do not share their vision.
From their point of view, municipal policies do not reflect an image of a welcoming place for migrants. Only anti-fascist actions organized by residents, like the one this weekend, contribute to reversing this situation.
“The exclusive discourse, based on a stereotypical view of the Muslim communityis not only unfair, but it is dangerous. Ripoll, with its Romanesque portal, aspires to be recognized as a UNESCO universal heritage site. But how can a city that does not recognize the value of its own diversity aspire to universality?” asks Elabdali.
Under the pretext that it “normalized Islamic misogyny,” the City Council He censored the poster for the main festival because a girl with a veil appeared and denounced at least three neighbors for hanging him, including a member of Unitat contra el Feixisme i Racisme Osona-Ripollès and former ICV councilor Carme Brugarola. The processing of the files has continued and a notification has been sent to those affected, who have been able to present an allegation. The complaint has yet to be resolved, but the sanctions can range between 750 and 3,000 euros, depending on the seriousness of the facts.
The City Council as a promotional tool for Parliament
Regarding the opposition, the Alternativa per Ripoll-CUP councilor Daniel Vilaseca argues that Orriols’ management is “very low political profile” in the day-to-day sense. “He has no special interest in daily affairs, but, on the other hand, uses City Hall as a platform for political propaganda for their interests at the national level,” he adds.
The anti-capitalist believes that Orriols “has already achieved her goal”—to be a deputy in Parliament— and that, therefore, “has no scruples when it comes to closing the club, imposing fines or persecuting dissent”, since all of this is part of her strategy to advance politically. According to Vilaseca, the mayor could have “lowered positions to reach consensus”, but she has focused on that which gives you “more profit”. Aliança Catalana governs in a minority with 6 councilors —out of a total of 17— and that failed to approve this year’s budgets.
The ERC councilor agrees with Vilaseca Chantal Perezwho assures that the mayor “seeks controversy to govern with a tweet.” “Sílvia Orriols was only looking to promote herself to reach Parliament. She has done nothing for Ripoll. She has not closed anything she promised, nor has she improved security. She has only cut rights,” he laments.
One of the issues that has generated the most stir is the municipal registry management. The law establishes that any citizen who presents documents proving his or her residence can be registered immediately, with the relevant verifications afterwards. However, Elabdali denounces that the City Council now “applies a prior verification procedure” – which was previously only used in exceptional cases – and that it is generating a waiting list that reaches three months“hindering applicants’ access to basic services” such as health.
Orriols’s ambivalences
The CUP councilor asserts that “he has been testing issues” such as security, immigration and LGTBI issues to see how his environment is positioned. In fact, he says that His setback regarding independence is “brutal”“In the Parliament he talks about recovering the spirit of October 1, but then he is not able to maintain the spirit in the City Council,” he adds.
In this sense, consider that Orriols has managed to attract voters from across the ideological spectrumsince it positions itself against the established system and, at the same time, has a markedly traditionalist character: “People who would have voted for Vox voted for her, but it has also received the support of former CUP voters.”
Pérez, for his part, points out that AC has placed emphasis on immigration, seen as a problem, and that there is no money. “With small mouths they say that perhaps it is the fault of the previous Government and for not having approved the budgets, but they do not want to reach consensus. They do nothing because they are not alert, They have no project beyond victimhood for not assuming that they have to govern,” he says. He also reiterates that Orriols is looking for “culprits,” but that he has cut back “what has always suited him with political ideas.”
Regarding other issues such as the independence movement or the LGBTI community, the Republican councilor says that she knows how to “play” so as not to lose votes. “She is contradictory to herself. She is pro-independence, but since there are voters who do not want to hear about it and does not want to be disqualified, she secretly removed the estelada from City Hall at night,” he concludes. In terms of equality, he says that he “passes the profile” to avoid problems.
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