Ripoll: Anti-immigration win despite low foreign population

Ripoll: Few foreigners and a political shift against immigration

The municipality attributed with the lowest share of foreigners in its province has elected a party that makes criticizing immigration its main platform. The paradox lies in the data: according to calculations shared by a debate participant, Ripoll, in Girona, has around 10% foreign population, one of the lowest percentages in the province and far below neighboring towns. Yet, hard-line promises prevailed there. The intuition—more immigration leads to more rejection—holds little water when examining municipal numbers.

Numbers that contradict the narrative

Provincial comparisons, based on the same count, expose common assumptions. Against Ripoll’s ~10%, towns like Figueres, Olot, La Bisbal d'Empordà, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, or Palamós exceed 25% foreign residents—and these are not just French or Anglo-Saxon retirees. Salt would reach nearly 45%. If migrant presence dictated voting patterns, those municipalities should have shifted first. It is argued that perception, daily narratives, and service saturation weigh more than actual census figures.

Actual foreign population in Spain

As of April 1, Spain had 41,969,601 Spanish nationals, including 39,889,196 born in Spain. Additionally, there were 6,227,092 foreign residents, up 2.46% from late 2022 and 15.5% higher than two years prior. Two opposing narratives coexist without reconciliation. One claims immigration drives growth and masks demographic decline. The other notes most naturalizations involve existing residents, with years seeing nearly 300,000 nationality acquisitions.

Demographic pyramid driving debate

The backdrop is demographic rather than political. Estimates suggest fertility among Spanish-born women is near 0.6 children per woman, while for foreign-born women it exceeds three. Such gaps alter age composition naturally. Young cohorts are scarce compared to older ones, straining sectors unable to fill roles with domestic workers. Viewing the pyramid objectively reveals this silent engine behind broader issues.

Costs of sustaining the system

Part of the discontent is economic: lifelong taxes, strained public services, and feeling aid bypasses contributors. Some claim healthcare collapses and waiting lists grow, citing long-term occupations where subsidies allegedly chain together. Simultaneously, the thread asserts real purchasing power and productivity haven't recovered lost ground, souring debates on fiscal responsibility.

Limits of municipal authority

City councils lack power to expel foreigners or block entry. Discriminating in aid distribution abusa current law. This limit appears among both supporters and opponents of the shift: room exists in managing municipal registers, but the gap between campaign promises and local execution remains wide. Councils can, however, set the conflict's tone.

With these figures, Ripoll’s shift allows multiple readings, none fully consistent. Why does rejection rise precisely where migration is lowest?