Joventuts d'Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (JERC)

Orlagh McCauley
International Officer
Ógra Shinn Féin

JERC translates into English as Catalan Leftist Republican Youth. They are the youth wing of Catalonia's Republican Left (ERC). Both were formed in 1931 after a Conference of Leftists was held in March of that year.

During the Spanish Civil War many Catalan Republicans lost their lives or went into exile as ERC was the leading force of the Popular Front. When Franco came to power in 1936 he deemed the party illegal and later executed the leader of the party, Lluís Companys i Jover who had been captured by the Nazis. Franco's dictatorshp had a massive impact on the Catalan Republican and independence movement.

It was only after the death of Franco that ERC regained support and in the 1980 they entered the government of Catalonia in a coalition. The following decade seen a massive growth of youth joining JERC. Today ERC is in coalition in both the Catalan and Spanish government, JERC is one of the largest youth movements in Catalonia.

JERC is committed to the independence of Catalonia from Spain. They are democratic, left wing and popular. Their aim is to attain a democratic society, with no sign of social or national apprehension and within an ecologically balanced land.

After attending Ógra Shinn Féin's national congress two delegates from JERC found that the issues concerning youth Irish Reublicans are similiar to those of youth Catalans.

Both organisations want the right to self determination for the Irish and Catalan people. Both want to see improvements to the quality of life for the citizens. For example free education, improvements in public healthcare with a vast downscale or abolishing private healthcare, promotion and protection of national language.

Both organisations know of the importance and neccessity of Internationalism and have attended many international conferences together. Both Ógra and JERC support the Corsican's right to independence. Both support the Basque's struggle for independence and condemn the oppression imposed by the French and Spanish authorities.

A JERC member, Arseni Armengou i Coromina, lived in Ireland for one year. When he first moved over he was shocked at the lack of interest in politics by the majority of people in the South. Particularly youth people and in relation to an united Ireland. He was shocked that English is still the first language in much of Ireland.

He spoke to me before returning home. He commended Sinn Féin for going into government with the DUP in the North and seen this as a major step in Ireland's path to a united Ireland.

Arseni believes Sinn Féin's role in politics in the South is more of a challenge than in the North due to the number of left wing political parties. If we are to gain suppoort we need to bring something new to Irish politics. He believes the healthcare system and the Irish languages are two areas of opportunity for this.