Rising polarisation as anti-Islam party reshapes Catalan politics

A small Catalan town has become the epicenter of political tension as its mayor, Silvia Orriols, leads an anti-Islam, ultra-nationalist party that has gained traction in the region. The party, Aliança Catalana, is reshaping the political landscape, sparking debates over immigration, identity, and coexistence.

A controversial rise to power

Silvia Orriols, the 40-year-old mayor of Ripoll, a town of 10,700 residents in northern Catalonia, has drawn national attention for her outspoken stance against Islam and immigration. Once an administrative worker, Orriols entered politics after the 2017 jihadist attacks in Barcelona and nearby Cambrils, which were linked to young men from Ripoll.

Her Aliança Catalana party, founded in 2023, has grown rapidly. After securing the Ripoll mayoralty in municipal elections, the party entered the Catalan regional parliament with two seats, riding the wave of far-right success seen across Europe.

"I am Islamophobic in the sense that the progress Islam is making on our continent scares me, and I'm here to try to stop it," Orriols told AFP from her office, describing her party as neither left nor right but fiercely nationalist and pro-independence.

Tensions in a town scarred by attacks

Ripoll, which became infamous after the 2017 attacks that killed 16 people, remains deeply impacted by the events. The town is home to a significant Moroccan community, representing around 8% of the population. Orriols’ policies and rhetoric have deepened divisions, with critics accusing her of targeting immigrants.

She has been accused of denying essential services by restricting foreigners' ability to register in the municipal database and banning public displays of Islamic symbols. For instance, a local festival poster featuring a woman in a headscarf was removed under her orders.

"Coexistence has been broken, people are scared," said Carme Brugarola, a teacher and activist, who was fined for reposting the banned image.

The town hall also recently shut down a Moroccan café, citing alleged violations, including claims that women were not allowed to enter. "It’s a lie," countered Mohamed Srhiri, a Moroccan resident, who argued that the community has been unfairly blamed for the 2017 attacks.

A demographic divide

The party’s message resonates with some in Ripoll and beyond. Catalonia, a wealthy region with 18% of its population being foreign-born, has seen rising tensions over immigration.

"We Catalans are first: those whose families have been here for generations," said Montse, a 59-year-old nurse and supporter of Orriols. "If an immigrant integrates, great—but this influx is overwhelming."

Soukayna, a 25-year-old Moroccan woman who grew up in Ripoll and chairs the town’s Moroccan youth association, expressed concern about Aliança Catalana's growing influence. "It is gaining strength, reaching more people, especially the young," she said, adding that she would like to ask Orriols why she promotes "so much hate."

A growing political force

Aliança Catalana has not only polarized Ripoll but also shaken Catalonia’s pro-independence movement. Unlike traditional separatist parties, such as the conservative Junts or the leftist ERC, Orriols’ party combines extreme nationalism with anti-immigration rhetoric.

Steven Forti, a historian at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, described Aliança Catalana as a radical alternative for disillusioned separatists. The party, which accuses other independence groups of betrayal, is poised to win up to 10 seats in the next regional elections, according to polls.

While still a minority force, its rapid growth signals a shift in Catalonia’s political dynamics, one that worries many observers. Forti warned that it remains "impossible to say" how far the party could expand.

As Ripoll grapples with its divisions, tensions continue to rise, reflecting broader challenges in a region at the crossroads of identity, history, and migration.