Natalia Puga Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela

Updated Monday, February 19, 2024-00:03

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The day was not as historic as the BNG dreamed, with a coalition government led, for the first time in Galicia's 43 years of autonomy, by an independentist, but Ana Pontón's party did manage to break its own records. The 25 deputies obtained in the elections represent the highest representation in their career in the Galician Parliament, six above the 19 with which in 2020 they had already surpassed themselves and far exceeding 30% of the votes.

A shot of energy that Pontón wanted to see in terms of the future. "Today nothing ends, on the contrary, we are stronger, with more energy and more prepared than ever to work positively for this country," she said to the media at 10:40 p.m., with the vote count at 98%, supported by all her Executive and after calling Alfonso Rueda to "congratulate" him on his victory.

Although her characteristic smile did not leave her, Pontón's face reflected a certain disappointment. An "extraordinary" result that "breaks all the electoral ceilings of the BNG" was "insufficient" because his objective was "to open a new time and give the Galicians a government led by the BNG."

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The reason for not achieving it is that the independentists rose at the expense of the fall of the PSOE and Sumar, with whom they aspired to form that new Government. Indeed, the BNG capitalized on the socialist debacle, but the objective of broadening its social base and "reaching very transversal sectors of Galician society" was not as forceful as expected. Pontón recognized this and also that they have to continue working to "see how to further broaden the base of the BNG." Despite this, he recalled that "changes are not easy, you have to fight for them," and that the eight years in which he has led the party "we showed that this organization has no ceiling."

Although its representation skyrocketed, it meant not meeting objectives, since as the campaign progressed, the hope of a change of government had been established among the nationalist bases and any result that did not mean wresting the majority from the PP was a disappointment. "There are many people who are disappointed at this moment and I share that disappointment," Pontón acknowledged.

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This 18-F she has not made history as president, but Pontón does see a new cycle in the community. Her party has been able to capitalize on the wear and tear of the two parties in the national government and has consolidated itself as the hegemonic force of the left in Galicia, no less than 16 seats above the PSOE.

"Galicia has already changed, this campaign changed everything and nothing will ever be the same," said Pontón, advancing that she will continue working in the same direction and satisfied with having become the "indisputable" alternative to the PP. They are, now, "a consolidated, strengthened BNG, with more desire and more drive than ever."

The election night left them with great joy, with results never seen before and even unpredictable, such as having managed to become the leading force in the city of Vigo,

Abel Caballero

's socialist bastion in which the socialists lost nearly 12 percentage points of the vote and nationalism grew by more than 13. But this clear victory, which extrapolating results to the rest of Galicia would have translated into a left-wing and nationalist Xunta, did not compensate for the disappointment of not having materialized the change.

The satisfaction came from all the provinces, because in all the constituencies the BNG improved its representation: two more seats in La Coruña and Pontevedra, and one in Lugo and Orense. In the province of Pontevedra they were the first force in seven municipalities. In urban Galicia, in addition to Vigo, they grew in the main cities, especially in Santiago, the capital of the community, which has been governed by nationalism since 2023, and La Coruña, where nine points shot up.

The atmosphere remained exciting throughout the count at the Nave de Vidán, BNG headquarters, with groups of supporters warming up the atmosphere with songs and applause. Each new confirmed seat was celebrated with cheers until the end. Even when a victory or the possibility of a coalition was already ruled out, that spirit was not abandoned. When, after the count was over, Pontón came out to greet her, she was received with applause, smiles and shouts of ""BNG" and "the fight continues."