Editing Convergence and Union (section)

== Policies and ideology ==
CiU used to defend the notion of Catalonia as a [[nation]] within Spain, striving for the highest possible level of autonomy for Catalonia. However, it has recently become a [[Catalan independence|pro-secession]] party.

CiU is generally considered a Catalan nationalist party; this is also the term it uses to describe itself. Both the Spanish and Catalan media perceive it as a moderate nationalist force. However, its liberal fraction (CDC) has a relatively strong current which advocates [[Catalan independentism|Catalan independence]] from Spain and which has grown stronger after 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100827/53990327112/felip-puig-la-independencia-de-catalunya-solo-sera-posible-a-traves-de-ciu.html |title=Felip Puig: "La independencia de Catalunya sólo será posible a través de CiU" |newspaper=[[La Vanguardia]] |date=27 August 2010 |access-date=23 December 2012 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://politica.e-noticies.es/el-ultimo-deseo-de-felip-puig-es-la-independencia-31662.html |title=El último deseo de Felip Puig es la independencia |work=e-notícies |date=5 August 2009 |access-date=23 December 2012 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vozbcn.com/2010/08/27/30427/pujol-cataluna-gran-murcia/ |title=El mejor instrumento para conseguir tranquila, pacífica y rigurosamente [la independencia de Cataluña] se llama CiU |work=La Voz de Barcelona |date=27 August 2010 |access-date=23 December 2012 |language=es}}</ref> Many high ranking exponents of the Democratic Convergence define CiU as an independentist political force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3755946/20100719/oriol-pujol-aclareix-ciu-independentista.html |title=Oriol Pujol aclareix que CiU no és independentista |work=Vilaweb.cat |date=19 July 2010 |access-date=23 December 2012 |language=ca}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcMtYa_TB9k |title=David Madí, democràcia a sang freda |medium=[[YouTube]] |date=9 November 2007 |access-date=23 December 2012 |author=tripartitwatch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818152828/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcMtYa_TB9k&list=PL0C0ACA53FA2E19E9 |archive-date=18 August 2017 |language=ca |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/17862 |title=Nació Digital: Àngel Colom: "La via més curta cap a la independència és CiU" |work=Naciodigital.cat |date=8 September 2010 |access-date=23 December 2012 |language=ca |first=Salvador |last=Cot}}</ref> The party's president [[Artur Mas]] has stated he would vote in favour of Catalan independence in a theoretical referendum of independence, but he added this would not be his official policy if elected as President of Catalonia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lavozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/146082/artur-mas-votaria-si-en-un-referendum-sobre-la-independencia-de-cataluna |title=Artur Mas: Votaría sí en un referéndum sobre la independencia de Cataluña |work=Lavozlibre.com |date=11 November 2010 |access-date=23 December 2012 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329211028/http://www.lavozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/146082/artur-mas-votaria-si-en-un-referendum-sobre-la-independencia-de-cataluna |archive-date=29 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On the other hand, the Christian democratic part of the coalition, the [[Democratic Union of Catalonia]], is less favourable to the idea of an independent Catalonia. Nevertheless, several prominent members of the Democratic Union have also supported independence, especially since the late 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/12976/vota/3/1265708033 |title=Nació Digital: Vila d'Abadal: "El nostre país tornarà a ser lliure" |work=Naciodigital.cat |date=13 December 2009 |access-date=23 December 2012 |language=ca}}</ref> However, the supporters of independence within the Democratic Union are a minority with much less influence than their counterparts in the Democratic Convergence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cronica.cat/noticia/Els_critics_dUnio_aposten_per_la_independencia_i_es_distancien_de_Duran_i_Lleida |title=Els crítics d'Unió aposten per la independència i es distancien de Duran i Lleida |access-date=17 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303053347/http://www.cronica.cat/noticia/Els_critics_dUnio_aposten_per_la_independencia_i_es_distancien_de_Duran_i_Lleida |archive-date=3 March 2012 |date=9 October 2008 |language=ca |url-status=dead }}</ref>