The municipal elections of 3 April 1979
Municipal elections were called across Spain on 27 January 1979. Barcelona’s political importance made for a very intense electoral ‘battle’ in the city, with 12 party lists for the local elections of 3 April.
The frontrunners were the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), led by economist Narcís Serra. In second place was the new Catalan brand of the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD), Centrists of Catalonia (CC-UCD), led by businessman Carles Güell. The third list was that of the United Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC), headed by the quantity surveyor Josep Miquel Abad.
Behind them came the nationalist coalition Convergence and Union (CiU), which had only been formed a few months before the elections, with businessman Xavier Millet heading their list. Meanwhile, economist Joan Hortalà was the visible face of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). Last came the post-Francoist Democratic Coalition – People’s Alliance (CD-AP), led by professor and jurist Magí Pont.
Seemingly less likely candidates for office were the lists of the revolutionary left: the Workers’ Party of Catalonia (PTC) and the Communist Movement of Catalonia (MCC); Red Flag, Communists of Catalonia and the Trotskyist Revolutionary Communist League (LCR).
The PSC focused their campaign on small events on the city’s main problems and ‘walkabouts’ with party candidates on top of a double-decker bus. (AFB, Diario de Barcelona, Albert Olivé, April 1979).
The PSUC ran a local campaign, very much based on the neighbourhoods. Josep Miquel Abad, head of the list, chatting with local residents in Abaceria market in Gràcia. (AMDG, Club Excursionista de Gràcia Collection).
Carles Güell de Sentmenat, head of the CC-UCD list, at a campaign event on Les Rambles, Barcelona. (AFB, Diario de Barcelona, Author unknown, 1 April 1979).
Press conference to present the CiU municipal lists, on 13 March 1979. From right to left: Xavier Millet (head of the list in Barcelona), Ramon Trias Fargas, Jordi Pujol and Josep Maria Cullell. (AFB, Diario de Barcelona, 14 March 1979).
The far-left organisations ran a campaign with hardly any financial resources. Meeting of the Communists of Catalonia coalitions, 1 April 1979. (AFB, Diario de Barcelona, Marcel·lí Sanz, 1 April 1979).