“In these elections, mobility issues in general have been somewhat sidelined, which is concerning,” say representatives from the People’s Party of Catalonia (PPC) to Mobility Portal España.
They explain that not enough attention is being given to mobility in general, “let alone sustainable mobility.”
They argue that this is because other topics, such as security, taxes, and amnesty, are dominating public debate.
In a recent interview with local media, PP candidate Alejandro Fernández called for the elimination of the CO2 tax, stating that there are people with limited resources who “cannot afford to buy an electric car every three years.”
This tax applies to cars (category M1) with emissions exceeding 120 g/km, vans (category N1) with emissions exceeding 160 g/km, as well as motorcycles and similar vehicles (categories L3e, L4e, L5e, and L7e) with emissions exceeding 120 g/km.
Unlike other parties, the PP emphasizes that it will not focus solely on large metropolitan areas.
Instead, it also aims to create an extensive public transport network in the regions, “thus facilitating less polluting mobility and promoting economic activity and repopulation of these territories.”
Additionally, it seeks to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in various ways, through subsidies and tax exemptions, supporting individuals and companies in their transition to more sustainable mobility.
“We will study ways to allow the use of personal electric vehicles on public transport again, ensuring the safety of everyone,” they detail.
In 2022, a fire caused by the explosion of an electric scooter battery in an FGC train in Sant Boi de Llobregat led Catalonia to ban both the access and presence of these vehicles on public transport infrastructure.
At the same time, the PP aims to expand the infrastructure network for these modes of transport, “ensuring extensive coverage that allows for barrier-free electric mobility.”
They will promote the installation of charging points and policies that encourage the renewal of public and private transport fleets towards more sustainable options.
Ahead of the elections to be held next Sunday, May 12th, in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Mobility Portal España contacted all parties to learn about their proposals related to the promotion of electromobility.
However, only the PP responded.
These elections were originally scheduled for spring 2025, but the current President of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, announced their advancement due to the inability to approve the regional budgets.
The PP’s goal is to be decisive in the next Catalan parliament, “precisely to free Catalonia from the paralysis it has been in for a decade.”
“This Catalan awakening must also involve a commitment to new economic sectors, such as sustainable mobility,” they assert.
For this reason, they commit to promoting public transport and trains.
They hope to “promote more efficient connections and coordinated schedules” to encourage the use of public transport instead of private vehicles.
Improvement proposals for current management
The PP aims to offer a climate of legal certainty and “bold political decisions” that support economic sectors, especially those that will shape the future, to maintain the leadership of its technological industry.
In this regard, they will promote public-private collaboration for the development of sustainable transport technologies, such as mobile applications that improve the user experience and car-sharing and bike-sharing platforms.
They will implement incentive policies for the purchase of electric bicycles and hybrid and fully electric vehicles, to diversify the available options for sustainable mobility for citizens.
Finally, they will promote the use of advanced technologies for traffic management and route planning, allowing for smoother mobility and reducing transit times.
What are their projections for next Sunday?
“The People’s Party expects to achieve a significant improvement in these elections,” they tell Mobility Portal España.
However, it is important to note that the most recent polls continue to place the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC), led by Salvador Illa, as the possible winner.
In a recent interview with elDiario.es, Alejandro Fernández emphasized: “I don’t trust Illa, I want actions. If he breaks with separatism in Spanish politics as a whole, including Catalonia, then we can sit down and talk.”
He adds: “That would mean turning the page on the ‘procés.’ What I’m not going to do is give the PP’s votes to continue the same.”
