Comuns campaign in Vic: bilingual poster sparks racism row

The Comuns poster in Vic that nobody translates: a call to racial war?

An election poster by the Comuns in Vic, Spain, has sparked fierce debate after a supposed translation of its Arabic text was interpreted as an incitement to racial conflict. The image, shared on social media, shows the slogan in Catalan "Rights are not negotiable" and an Arabic text which, according to a query to Grok — xAI's assistant — would read: "The racial war has begun, may the strongest win", alongside an illustration of an arm-wrestling match between two arms of different skin colours.

The campaign, focused on municipal registration and the rights of migrants, includes the slogan "No person without registration". However, the controversy has eclipsed the original message. The party, formally led by Ada Colau and Jessica Albiach, now faces veiled accusations of promoting division.

The absence of an official translation of the Arabic text has fuelled suspicion. While some see a strategy to win the migrant vote, others denounce a radical message incompatible with social cohesion. The translation has not been confirmed by independent sources, and the party has not commented on the content.

The row comes amid tension in Catalonia over registration policies and social rights. With only three seats in the Parlament (the Catalan parliament), the Comuns play a kingmaker role that amplifies the impact of their initiatives. The question that remains: is this poster a clumsy communication blunder or confirmation of a discourse some have long been denouncing?