“Galicia has already changed, these elections have changed everything, there is a before and after and nothing is going to be the same again,” claimed Ana Pontón, candidate of the Galician Nationalist Bloc, when she went out with her team to assess the results that support her as head of the opposition in the Parliament of Galicia.
“The alternative to the Popular Party to build the future of this country is the BNG,” she defended after confirming the 25 seats obtained, almost triple those achieved by Besteiro's PSOE.
“This organization has obtained a result that breaks all its ceilings, and what has been shown is that it has no ceiling,” the nationalist candidate has warned;
“From now on the key will be to continue broadening the base.”
“The changes are not easy,” he acknowledged after commenting that he has already telephoned Alfonso Rueda to congratulate him, “the Galicians decided that there would be no political change, but there was a huge mobilization, and we are going to have a strong parliamentary group "He's going to stand up for the people."
The never-before-seen result, 25 seats, achieved by the Bloc has not opened the doors of the Xunta.
The failure of the PSdeG (from 14 to 9 seats), called to be its government partner, has been a heavy burden for the nationalist candidate, who aspired to "make history with the first female president in Galicia."
At the headquarters of the party in these elections, the A Nave de Vidán restaurant, on the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela, the expectation was maximum and hundreds of supporters followed the evolution of the count on a giant screen, celebrating with applause and songs each time. seat that they won as the percentage of the vote counted increased.
The militants and followers of Pontón also celebrated each deputy that the popular ones lost while the final result was being forged, minute by minute.
When the candidate appeared to make statements, at around 11 p.m., Pontón was applauded by those gathered, who shouted “BNG, BNG!” between claps.
The atmosphere in A Nave de Vidán did not dissolve after Pontón's appearance and lasted long after midnight, a sign that, in reality, there was something to celebrate despite the bittersweet taste of the polls.
We are a strengthened BNG, with more desire and more drive than ever to continue defending this Country.
Thank you all for trusting us 💙 pic.twitter.com/dndujdKsZM
— Ana Pontón (@anaponton) February 18, 2024
With six more seats, the Bloc has more than broken its record.
As the polls had predicted during the campaign, Pontón, the best-known and most valued leader, also the youngest, but with the longest parliamentary career, managed to break her barrier, the 19 seats achieved in 2020, which were also historic. in Galician nationalism (with Xosé Manuel Beiras, the Bloc had reached 18).
Without losing his smile, Pontón celebrated the result, but criticized himself: “It seems insufficient to us, our objective was to open a new era for Galicia.
"I understand the disappointment of the people who put their hopes in us and went to vote with enthusiasm."
“But we are more motivated than ever,” she concluded, “with more desire and more drive than ever.”
More information
Election Results in Galicia
At the stroke of midnight, the BNG had garnered more than 460,000 support (more than 31.5% of the total), when in the pandemic elections, four years ago, facing Alberto Núñez Feijóo as a PP candidate, it obtained 311,340 ballots (23.78%).
Ana Pontón carried out a campaign focused on “concentrating the vote for change” in the Bloc in order to make a pact with Gómez Besteiro's socialist party a reality, but the lack of support from the candidate anointed by Pedro Sánchez meant, at the time of the truth, the biggest obstacle to snatching the majority from Alfonso Rueda's PP and banishing him, after 15 years of power, from the Xunta de Galicia.
The great leap made by the candidate—who promised to “rescue public health,” boost social services, create 12,000 quality jobs and as many affordable rental homes to stop the bleeding of young people who emigrate—strengthens her, however, still more in the chamber in the role he already occupied as leader of the opposition.
She also consolidates the image of unity (previously unknown) that in the last eight years, since she was elected national spokesperson for the BNG, Pontón has managed to imprint on Galician nationalism.
One of the most positive readings made by the representatives of the Bloc is the strong growth of the nationalist organization in the urban area.
In Vigo, the most populated city in the autonomous community and the landscape of Abel Caballero's (PSdeG) absolute majorities in the municipal elections, the Bloc has surpassed PP and PSOE and has become the most voted force, even in neighborhoods that They are considered “socialist bastions,” MEP Ana Miranda explained in a huddle with the press, while Pontón's appearance was still awaited.
“The BNG has a great organization and the best militancy in the world,” Ana Pontón claimed, while thanking all the people who voted for her party, many of them for the first time in their lives.
“We ran a positive and respectful campaign,” she said, “and thousands of people saw us as the undisputed alternative” to the PP Government: “Now I ask all of them to keep their enthusiasm and hope intact.”
Pontón also had a few words for her parents, Aurita and Luis, “thank you to my parents for making me the person I am.”
And she promised to have the “energy” necessary to “defend a more just, egalitarian, feminist Galicia with more well-being.”
The BNG candidate for the presidency of the Xunta de Galicia, after learning the results of the Galician elections.ÓSCAR CORRAL
Videoconference between Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Alfonso Rueda after learning the results of the elections to the Parliament of Galicia, in an image of the PP.
The popular candidate Alfonso Rueda has won 40 seats, two less than in 2020, but enough to continue governing after 15 uninterrupted years of the PP in the Galician Executive.
David Mudarra
Sumar's candidate in Galicia, Marta Lois, during the press conference held after learning the results.
The leftist coalition has obtained only 1.88% of the votes and will not have representation in the Galician Parliament. Brais Lorenzo (EFE)
The president of Democracia Ourensana, Gonzalo Pérez Jácome, continues the scrutiny of the electoral results, this Sunday in Ourense.
This populist party has been the surprise of the night by obtaining a representative in the Galician Parliament, but it fails to be the key to the Government given the good results of the PP. Alejandro Camba (EFE)
The candidate for the presidency of the Xunta de Galicia, José Ramón Gómez Besteiro, during his appearance after learning the results of the Galician regional elections.XOAN ALVAREZ (EFE)
BNG supporters sing this Sunday, in the Nave de Vidán in A Coruña (Galicia), the place chosen by their party to follow the vote count.
Cabalar (EFE)
Podemos' candidate for the Xunta de Galicia, Isabel Faraldo, follows the count of the regional elections at the headquarters of her organization, this Sunday in A Coruña.
Podemos is left out of the regional Parliament, not obtaining any seats, with an insignificant 0.26% of votes.kiko Slim (EFE)
Sumar's candidate for the presidency of the Xunta, Marta Lois (second from the left), upon her arrival at the Hotel Peregrino, in Santiago, to monitor the results of the Galicia election day.M.
Dylan (Europa Press)
Three people count the votes at the Illas Cies institute, in Vigo (Pontevedra), this Sunday. Adrián Irago (Europa Press)
Several journalists follow the Galician election night from the national headquarters of the PP, in Madrid. Rodrigo Jiménez (EFE)
Dozens of people protest at the PSOE headquarters, on Ferraz Street, during the recount of the Galician election night, this Sunday in Madrid.
FERNANDO VILLAR (EFE)
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