The Barcelona magistrate overseeing the matter involving No. 11 of the city’s trading company has handed down a ruling linked to the so‑called Consumption Strategy. The decision aligns with the position of Foment del Treball and with prior assessments by the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC). It orders the definitive shutdown of a search engine and the associated website used by companies perceived as supporting pro‑independence positions. In the sentence provided to El Periódico de Catalunya, the court states that the ANC’s conduct has been demonstrated to amount to an obstruction within a boycott framework. The case remains open to appeal.
The controversy traces back to November 2018, more than a year after the 1‑O referendum, when the ANC announced the launch of a campaign branded as Consum Estrategic. The organization, led at the time by Elisenda Paluzie, began compiling a list of companies tied to positions favorable to Catalan independence and urged the public to favor those firms. The aim was to leverage positions seen as advantageous to the independence movement, presenting a public list and a search tool that highlighted allied businesses as alternatives to others accused of participating in what was described as a threatening campaign. The move drew a formal complaint from Foment del Treball, which argued that the campaign equated to boycotting and unfair competition.
Legal action unfolded in 2019, with the court granting the interim measures requested by Foment del Treball and ordering a temporary suspension of the ANC website. Before delivering a final ruling, the CNMC reviewed the case and issued a formal reprimand of the ANC campaign, though it chose not to impose sanctions at that stage. The authority asserted that the campaign aimed to drive away customers from unrelated businesses through a conscious, deliberate strategy rather than merely promoting other participants in a competitive market. The objective, according to the asset agency close to the proceedings, was clear and intentional rather than incidental or incidental effects of broader market movements.
Following the CNMC’s conclusions, the Barcelona commercial court issued its decision. The ruling stated that the ANC’s conduct went beyond simply stoking debate or informing consumers; it described a calculated effort to shape consumer choices. The court ordered the website’s shutdown and required that the costs of the proceedings be borne by the public body involved, while also barring similar actions in the future. The judgment underscores the legal consequences of campaigns that target business rivals through organized boycotts and coordinated consumer guidance, framing such moves as unlawful in the current regulatory environment. The decision, while specific to this case, signals a broader stance against organized economic pressure used to influence market behavior in politically sensitive contexts.