Teruel Existe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teruel Exists Teruel Existe
Spokesperson	Tomás Guitarte
Founded	November 1999 (platform) 29 September 2021 (party)
Headquarters	Avda. Sagunto, nº 3, 1ºA 44002, Teruel
Ideology	Regionalism
Political position	Big tent
National affiliation	Empty Spain
Colors	Green
Congress of Deputies (Teruel seats)	0 / 3
Senate of Spain (Teruel seats)	0 / 4
Cortes of Aragon (Teruel seats)	3 / 14
Local government in Teruel	111 / 1,139

Teruel Existe (which means Teruel Exists in English) is a political group from the province of Teruel in Spain. It started in November 1999 as a group of citizens. Their main goal was to ask for fair treatment for their home province.

Back in 1999, Teruel felt left out. It had no modern highways, and its only train line was old and had many accidents. The people of Teruel wanted better roads, trains, and more support for their area.

In 2019, many parts of Spain that felt "forgotten" held a big protest. This encouraged Teruel Existe to take a new step. They decided to run in the national elections that November. This was a big move for a group of citizens.

They did very well in the election! Teruel Existe became the most voted group in their province. They won one seat in the Spanish Congress and two seats in the Senate. This was the first time a citizen group like theirs had ever won seats in the Spanish parliament.

Their success was so important that their votes helped choose the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in January 2020. Because their vote was so crucial, their leader, Tomás Guitarte, even needed police protection. This shows how much their voice mattered. Later, on September 29, 2021, Teruel Existe officially became a political party.

Why Teruel Exists?

Teruel Existe started because the people of Teruel felt their province was being ignored. They believed it was not getting the same attention and money as other parts of Spain. This feeling of being "forgotten" is sometimes called "Empty Spain." It refers to areas that have fewer people and less development.

What They Wanted

The group wanted better connections, like modern highways and improved train lines. They also pushed for more jobs and opportunities in Teruel. Their aim was to make sure their province could grow and thrive, just like other regions.

Becoming a Political Force

For many years, Teruel Existe worked as a citizen platform. This means they were a group of people working together for a cause, not a political party. They organized protests and asked for changes.

Joining the Elections

In 2019, they decided to try something new. They formed a "grouping of electors" to run in the national elections. This allowed them to put forward their own candidates. Their goal was to bring their message directly to the Spanish parliament.

Their Big Win

Running in elections was a huge step. When the votes were counted, Teruel Existe had won seats! This was a major achievement. It meant that the voices from Teruel would now be heard in the national government. Their success showed that even small groups can make a big difference in politics.

Making a Difference in Government

After the 2019 election, no single party had enough votes to form a government easily. This meant that smaller groups, like Teruel Existe, became very important.

Helping Form the Government

Teruel Existe's vote was needed to help Pedro Sánchez become Prime Minister. Their support was crucial. This gave them a chance to talk about the needs of Teruel directly with the new government. It was a powerful moment for the group.

From Platform to Party

Because of their growing influence and success, Teruel Existe decided to become an official political party. This happened in September 2021. Becoming a party means they can continue to work for Teruel's future in a more formal way. They keep fighting for their province to have a fair chance and a bright future.

See also

In Spanish: Teruel Existe para niños