Pere Comín, brother of Toni Comín, one of the Catalan ministers in exile, died this Monday in Leuven (Belgium) after a long illness. Given his bad prognosis, Comín decided to travel to Belgium to spend his last days with his siblings and mother, El Nacional has learnt.
If Toni Comín had returned to Spain, he would have been arrested and imprisoned awaiting trial on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds like his colleagues. In Belgium, however, where he has lived since early November last year, he is free, after the withdrawal of the extradition warrant against him.
After the news emerged, a number of politicians took to Twitter to express their sympathy.
Estimats @toni_comin i @BetonaComin, rebeu una abraçada immensa i tot l’escalf possible en un moment difícil i trist. A la cruesa de l’exili, s’hi afegeix la cruesa de la vida. Us acompanyo en el sentiment. Que el vostre germà descansi en pau.
— Quim Torra i Pla (@QuimTorraiPla) 24 de juliol de 2018
(Translation) President Quim Torra: Dear Toni and Betona Comín, receive a great embrace and all possible affection at a difficult, sad time. To the rawness of exile is added the rawness of life. I'm with you in your emotion. May your brother rest in peace.
Molta força i tota l'estima @toni_comin i família. Que la terra et sigui lleu Pere, una immensa abraçada
— Roger Torrent (@rogertorrent) 24 de juliol de 2018
Catalan Parliament speaker Roger Torrent: Much strength and all love for Toni Comín and family. May the earth rest lightly on you, Pere, a great embrace.
Molta força @toni_comin i tota la família en aquests moments difícils, de dolor familiar agreujat per un exili injust. Una abraçada ben gran.
— Pere Aragonès (@perearagones) 23 de juliol de 2018
Vice-president Pere Aragonès: Much strength Toni Comín and the whole family at this difficult time of family pain aggravated by an unjust exile. A great embrace.
Estimat Toni, el teu germà ha volgut morir a Lovaina, amb tu i la teva família. El condol més sentit per a tota la família Comín. Un espant tenyit de poesia. Abraçades i petons. https://t.co/niA231kzmO
— Lluís Llach (@lluis_llach) 23 de julio de 2018
Musician and former deputy Lluís Llach: Dear Toni, your brother wanted to die in Leuven, with you and your family. The deepest condolences for the whole Comín family. A horror tinged with poetry. Hugs and kisses.
Estimada @BetonaComin companya al Secretariat de l’@assemblea, estimat @toni_comin conseller, diputat a l’exili, el meu condol i el de tota l’entitat per la mort del vostre germà Pere.
— Elisenda Paluzie (@epaluzie) 23 de juliol de 2018
Elisenda Paluzie, president of ANC: Dear Betona Comín, my colleague on ANC's board, dear Toni Comín, minister, deputy in exile, condolences from myself and the whole organisation on the death of your brother Pere.
‘Espero meravelles
— Sílvia Bel (@SilviabelB) 23 de juliol de 2018
a cada cantonada.
Hi ha alegria
en l’aire.
El sol m’omple
els ulls.
El meu presagi
és una línia
contra el sol,
un punt en l’horitzó.’
Montserrat Abelló@toni_comin @BetonaComin
Actress Sílvia Bel: I expect wonders // on every corner. // There is joy // in the air. // The sun fills // my eyes. // My sign // is a line // against the sun, // a point on the horizon.
Una forta abraçada i el meu condol per a @toni_comin i la seva família en aquests moments tan difícils
— Alba Vergés Bosch (@albaverges) 23 de juliol de 2018
No oblidarem el greuge afegit que heu hagut de superar per estar units.
Minister Alba Vergés: A strong embrace and my condolences for Toni Comín and his family at such a difficult time. We will never forget the added insult that you've had to overcome to be together.
Molta força i tota l’estima @toni_comin una abraçada ben forta per tota la família!
— Ester Capella Farré (@estercapella) 24 de juliol de 2018
Minister Ester Capella: Much strength and all love, Toni Comín, a strong embrace for the whole family.
El meu més sentit condol i una forta abraçada per la pèrdua del vostre germà, conseller @toni_comin i @BetonaComin. Feu-los extensius a la vostra mare i a la vostra germana Maria. Aquests durs moments és molt injust que no els pugueu viure junts i on vulgueu.
— David Bonvehí (@davidbonvehi) 24 de juliol de 2018
PDeCAT president David Bonvehí: My deepest condolences and a strong embrace for the loss of your brother, minister Toni Comín and Betona Comin. Extend them to your mother and your sister Maria. It's very unfair that you cannot live these tough times together and where you want.
Estimat amic @toni_comin avui l’exili és més injust que ahir. Una abraçada per tu i per tota la teva família.
— Meritxell Serret (@MeritxellSerret) 24 de juliol de 2018
“i si l' atzar et porta lluny,
que els deus et guardin el camí,
que t' acompanyin els ocells,
que t'acaronin els estels”
Fellow exiled minister Meritxell Serret: Dear friend Toni Comín, today exile is more unjust than yesterday. An embrace for you and all your family. "And if fate carries you far away, // may the gods protect the path for you, // may the birds accompany you, // may the stars caress you."