Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond took part in the PDeCAT national assembly this Sunday. He defended the right to self-determination and called for the release of the prisoners and the return of the exiles. "Your dream of freedom, like mine, will never die", he declared in both Catalan and English, amidst cries of independence and applause from the 2,000 members who gathered at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya this weekend to decide the future of the party.
Salmond also used his speech to send a message of support to minister Clara Ponsatí, exiled in Scotland. He assured that he hoped that all the prisoners could be released and that the exiles could return to Catalonia to "return to public life" and "build the future". He also stated that Catalonia's struggle for freedom has created admiration throughout Europe for its pacifism.
The former first minister, who was also responsible for negotiating the referendum on the independence of Scotland with the United Kingdom, made a clear defence of the self-determination of all peoples and asserted that "the future of Catalonia depends on the Catalans". He recalled that the process to achieve the Scottish referendum was a long one and and argued that Catalonia must be able to have the same opportunity.
This weekend, the political party PDeCAT (liberal) has changed its leadership and has agreed to join the political movement of President Carles Puigdemont. Marta Pascal, first secretary, has resigned from the party leadership.