Former Candidatura d'Unitat Popular (CUP) parliamentary leader Anna Gabriel returned to public political activity in Barcelona on Saturday. She participated in a "popular survey" organised by her party in the La Prosperitat neighbourhood. This area is part of the Nou Barris district.
Engaging Residents in Nou Barris
Dozens of activists joined Gabriel in canvassing the streets. They aimed to "collect the voice" of "hundreds" of local residents. This initiative, operating under the slogan "Now the country speaks," seeks to gather citizen concerns. According to a statement from the anti-capitalist party, the survey aims to understand daily challenges. CUP Member of Parliament for Catalonia, Laure Vega, also participated in the action.
Vega highlighted the campaign's core objective. She stated it aims to "place people's voices at the centre of the political debate." Vega added that it seeks to "transform everyday concerns into the foundation for building a political alternative." Both Gabriel and Vega attended a preparatory training session for participants before starting the street outreach.
Gabriel's Return from Exile
Gabriel had maintained a low public profile since late 2023. At that time, the seventh section of the Audiencia de Barcelona concluded that the actions attributed to her did not constitute a crime. This decision definitively closed the open case against her. Gabriel had fled Spain and remained in Switzerland between 2018 and 2022. She returned to Spain in 2022 to regularise her situation by appearing before the Tribunal Supremo.
Her departure followed the opening of judicial proceedings against leaders of the Catalan independence process. Gabriel served as CUP's parliamentary leader during the legislature that culminated in the 2017 unilateral declaration of independence. The La Prosperitat neighbourhood, located within the Nou Barris district, is home to over 170,000 residents. This area is known for its diverse demographics and strong community activism. It represents a strategic location for grassroots political engagement.
Future Political Engagement
This public engagement suggests a potential re-emergence for Gabriel in Catalan politics. It also highlights CUP's strategy to connect directly with residents. The party aims to build its political platform from grassroots concerns ahead of upcoming elections. This approach seeks to differentiate CUP from other political forces by prioritising direct citizen input.
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Originally published by 20 Minutos Barcelona. Read original article.
