Somatemps

Somatemps is a Catalan political and cultural collective that promotes a Spanish-nationalist interpretation of Catalonia and opposes Catalan independence and Catalan nationalism. The organization describes its mission in terms of defending what it calls the Hispanic identity of Catalonia. Its name is a play on the Catalan expression “Som a temps,” meaning “we are in time,” and Sometent, the name historically associated with Catalan local militias. The wordplay expresses the group’s stated belief that there is still time to prevent or reverse the advance of the independence movement. The collective was established in the early 2010s, with its origins placed between 2011 and 16 November 2013. Its founding activity was associated with Santpedor in the Bages area, where founder Josep Ramon Bosch resides. Javier Barraycoa has been identified as its leader, while Josep Alsina later succeeded Bosch in a leadership role. Public reporting and police-related sources have generally characterized Somatemps as being on the far right and as Spanish nationalist. The organization has maintained links or points of contact with people and groups connected to Spanish unionism, the broader radical right, and organizations opposing Catalan separatism. Somatemps became involved in the creation of Catalan Civil Society, an association established to mobilize opposition to Catalan independence. It also organized public events intended to articulate a Spanish view of Catalan history and identity, including the first Congress of Spanish Catalanity in Ripoll in December 2013. The group has participated in or supported demonstrations and public initiatives criticizing the Catalan government, the independence movement, and the political legacy associated with the Pujol case. Its activities have often combined historical interpretation, political advocacy, public demonstrations, and support for Spanish state institutions. Its political positions include support for a unified Spanish political nation and rejection of the idea that Catalonia should become an independent state. Somatemps criticizes the Catalan education system’s extensive use of Catalan as a language of instruction, arguing that schools promote Catalan nationalism; this claim has been disputed by research cited in public discussions of the issue. The organization also objects to some immigrant-support and Catalan-language initiatives, including activities associated with the Red Cross and Plataforma per la Llengua. Its public discourse has included support for political Catholicism and criticism of abortion, same-sex marriage, and LGBT-related campaigns, which it has portrayed as incompatible with its religious and social outlook. During the constitutional crisis surrounding the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, Somatemps supported Spanish police and Civil Guard personnel deployed to Catalonia. It organized a symbolic donation effort involving Iberian ham, Rioja wine, and other food supplies for officers housed in Barcelona. The group also appeared at a Spanish-unionist demonstration in November 2017. Public descriptions have placed its membership at approximately 300 people, although the available reference material does not establish a current membership figure or provide independently audited organizational data.

Somatemps emerged in Catalonia during the period when the independence movement was becoming a dominant force in regional politics. Its origins are placed in the early 2010s, with the organization associated with Santpedor in the Bages comarca and formally described in reference material as having been founded between 2011 and 16 November 2013. Josep Ramon Bosch is identified as one of its founders. The group adopted a name combining a call to action—“we are in time”—with Sometent, a historical term for Catalan local militias. This naming reflected its objective of mobilizing against Catalan separatism while claiming a particular interpretation of Catalonia’s place within Spain. From its earliest phase, Somatemps operated within a network of Spanish-nationalist and anti-independence activists. Its first meeting reportedly included figures linked to Platform for Catalonia and the Republican Social Movement, as well as Juan Antonio Llopart, who had been associated with European far-right and fascist organizations. Police and press sources have consequently described Somatemps as far right. These associations have been part of public discussion of the organization, alongside the past political activities of some people connected to its leadership or wider network. The organization’s public program combines opposition to Catalan nationalism with cultural and social conservatism. It argues for Spain as a single political nation and rejects the political legitimacy of Catalan independence. Somatemps has also criticized the role of Catalan in the education system, alleging that schooling promotes nationalist indoctrination. Its social commentary has supported a Catholic conception of Spanish identity and criticized abortion, same-sex marriage, LGBT campaigns, and some immigrant-assistance and Catalan-language initiatives. In 2013, Somatemps organized the first Congress of Spanish Catalanity in Ripoll. The event included participants associated with Spanish unionist and conservative politics and was intended to develop a counter-narrative to Catalan nationalism. The collective also took part in opposition to the Catalan government during controversies surrounding the Pujol case and supported public mobilization around Spanish national celebrations and unionist causes. It contributed to the establishment of Catalan Civil Society, which became one of the more visible organizations opposing Catalan independence. The 2017 constitutional crisis increased Somatemps’s public activity. Before and during the 1 October independence referendum, it organized a symbolic “ham operation” for police and Civil Guard personnel sent to Barcelona by the Spanish government. The campaign raised approximately 2,500 euros and used the funds to provide Iberian ham, Rioja wine, and other food to officers accommodated in hotels and vessels in Barcelona’s port. Somatemps also participated in other efforts to bring provisions to security personnel. On 18 November 2017, it joined a far-right Spanish-unionist demonstration held in opposition to an anti-fascist and anti-racist mobilization. Reference material describes Somatemps as having approximately 300 members, but no current official membership disclosure is available in the supplied sources. Javier Barraycoa is identified as the organization’s leader, while Josep Alsina and Josep Ramon Bosch are described in connection with earlier leadership and founding roles. The group’s current organizational scale, finances, legal structure, and activity level remain insufficiently documented.

• 2017

  Support campaign for deployed Spanish security forces

  [1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  During the Catalan constitutional crisis, Somatemps organized a food and drink donation campaign for police and Civil Guard personnel deployed in Barcelona.

• 2017

  Participation in Spanish-unionist demonstration

  [1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  Somatemps participated in a Spanish-unionist demonstration on 18 November 2017.

• 2013

  Formation and first Congress of Spanish Catalanity

  [1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  Somatemps was established by the middle of the decade’s first half and organized its first Congress of Spanish Catalanity in Ripoll in December 2013.

• 2013

  Contribution to Catalan Civil Society

  [1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  The collective contributed to the creation of Catalan Civil Society, an organization opposed to Catalan independence.

• 2011

  Origins of Somatemps

  [1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material places the origins of the collective in the early 2010s, during growing conflict between Spanish unionism and the Catalan independence movement.

A Spanish-nationalist, anti-independence Catalan collective that presents itself as a defender of the Hispanic identity of Catalonia and is commonly classified by police and press sources as far right.

• Advocacy

  Political and cultural advocacy

  Somatemps produces political commentary and public advocacy centered on Spanish national unity, opposition to Catalan independence, and a Hispanic interpretation of Catalan history and identity. Its output appears to include events, statements, demonstrations, and online publications rather than commercial consumer products.

• Campaigns

  Public mobilization campaigns

  The collective organizes or supports demonstrations and donation drives connected with Spanish unionism, criticism of Catalan nationalist institutions, and support for Spanish state personnel. These activities are episodic and politically oriented.

• 2017Ham operation

  Barcelona · Catalonia

  Somatemps solicited donations to provide Iberian ham, Rioja wine, and other food to Spanish police and Civil Guard personnel deployed to Barcelona during the referendum crisis.

  Outcome. The campaign raised approximately 2,500 euros and delivered symbolic provisions to officers.

  Source

• 2017

  Public support for Spanish security forces during the referendum crisisStrategy

  Background

  Spanish police and Civil Guard personnel were deployed to Catalonia in the context of the 1 October independence referendum and the wider constitutional crisis.

  Action taken

  Somatemps launched a donation campaign and arranged food and drink for officers stationed in Barcelona.

  Aftermath

  The initiative raised approximately 2,500 euros and became one of the group’s most visible actions during the crisis.

  Campaign funds raised. Approximately 2500 EUR (2017)

  Source

• 2017

  Somatemps supports police and Civil Guard personnel during the 2017 constitutional crisis[1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The organization collected donations and delivered food and drink to Spanish police and Civil Guard personnel deployed to Barcelona in connection with the Catalan independence referendum.

• 2017

  Somatemps participates in a Spanish-unionist far-right demonstration[1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  On 18 November, Somatemps participated in a demonstration supporting Spanish unionism and opposing an event organized by anti-fascist and anti-racist groups.

• 2013

  Somatemps organizes the first Congress of Spanish Catalanity[1]Somatempsen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The collective organized a congress in Ripoll focused on presenting a Spanish-nationalist interpretation of Catalan identity and history.

1. 1Somatempsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Somatemps official websitesomatemps.me