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The president of the ANC (Catalan National Assembly), Jordi Sànchez, announced this Wednesday that more than 50,000 people have already registered for the demonstration that pro-independence organisations will hold on the Catalan National Day, 11th September. This year it will again take place in Barcelona, at the crossroads of the large, central streets passeig de Gràcia and carrer d'Aragó. There are already 1000 coaches reserved.

In an interview on El món on the radio station RAC1, Sànchez said that they expect a high turnout again this year, that the Catalan capital will be "overflowing". According to the president of the ANC, the total number of people registered so far shows that this year's event will be "a historic day", just a few weeks before the independence referendum planned for 1st October.

"Infinite" confidence

On the topic of the referendum, Jordi Sànchez expressed his "infinite" confidence that the Catalan government and Parliament will carry out the necessary formalities for the vote to be approved before 11th September, with the start of the campaign already set for 15th September.

Nor does Sànchez doubt the unity of action of Junts pel Sí (Together for Yes) and the CUP (Popular Unity Candidacy), despite the ideological differences between the parties. "Although Anna Gabriel [of the CUP] and Santi Vila [of Junts pel Sí] disagree on specific subjects, they have the ability to coincide on a common denominator," he said just days after Gabriel controversially said she wanted Vila out of the government after the referendum.