Catalan politcal parties increase their presence on the internet ahead of the upcoming elections (read article in Castilian here, El Pais). In a bid to reach more voters the Catalan parties, who had been struggling to find places to push their message, have now adopted new campaign policies that include using blogs, YouTube videos and social networks to put out their messages. The parties were aware of how important the one-way communication the internet used to provide with all candidates having their own website in the 2006 elections but this has developed further; Artur Mas, leader of CiU, now has a weekly updated video blog, an initiative in Catalan politics that is being hailed as pioneering. This election, the parties have noted the appeal of the blogs, with most members of parliament, having one. Plus the interactive aspect of the internet is being The Esquerra Republicana have launched a website (www.decideixes.cat) where you can amend their electoral programme, collaborate with the party and even get the change to design the ad for their campaign. Whilst Jordi Cuminal, the CiU communications secretary said that Twitter will "set the elections on fire," and works under the philosophy "Whoever does well on the internet is not guaranteed to win elections, but who wants to win the elections should do well in the Internet." However the presence of the candidates on Facebook and Twitter is uneven. Everyone has their own profile on Facebook and most post themselves, however most parties say that politicians do not have time to give Twitter enough attention to make it worth while. Marc Rius,the ICV campaign manager said "Joan Herrera has not opened a Twitter account because it demands a very high frequency of comments and we do not want anther person to do it in his place."