The Catalan president in exile, Carles Puigdemont, has once again made a call for unity. In the acts to mark Catalonia's Diada, or National Day, celebrated in advance this Sunday in Brussels, Puigdemont stressed the importance for Catalans of their "unity as a people" and not just loyalty to their political parties.
The president, along with the ministers in his 2017 government who are also exiled in Belgium, Toni Comín, Meritxell Serret and Lluís Puig, took part in an event at the Atomium in Brussels, organized by foreign branches of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) as part of their programme for September 11th's Diada.
Puigdemont urged Catalans to take part in the Diada. "The only way to reverse defeats is to accumulate victories, and this means that we, as a people, must also be united", said Puigdemont before the audience. He also asserted that "unity as a people" is much more "solid" than unity which is "purely political", and said that at Wednesday's Diada he wanted to hear "the voice of the people raised civically against injustice and repression."
In addition, the president called for the celebrations of the Diada to explicitly call for independence, in order to "make possible a country that will, amongst us all and with no-one left out, decide [the future]" and he referred to the Spanish state as "intolerant" and "allergic to dissidence ".
In his speech, Puigdemont recalled the commitment of Catalans to Human Rights. "This has existed for a long time, but we renew it every year, and whenever we have the opportunity, despite lacking resources and governmental competencies," he said. With reference to this, Puigdemont denounced the injustices of Spain that contribute to "creating ever-greater inequalities."
The exiled president's call for unity also focused on the fight against climate change. Puigdemont recalled that only by standing together we will be able to preserve the planet, and that this is also the responsibility of Catalans.
The event this Sunday also included an open speaking session and traditional sardana dancing with the Cobla Ressó and Dansaires del Penedès groups.
Gràcies @AncBru i @CasalCatBRU per haver-nos portat els Dansaires del Penedès i la Cobla Ressò a l'Atòmium de Brussel·les, i al mestre Antoni López per l'estrena de la sardana "Però a Girona més", que hem ballat amb emoció. pic.twitter.com/9wFPe6hVVu
— Carles Puigdemont (@KRLS) September 8, 2019
Translation:
"Thanks @AncBru and @CasalCatBRU for bringing the Dansaires del Penedès and Cobla Ressò to the Atomium in Brussels, and to the master Antonio López for the premiere of the Sardana "But Girona, more", which we danced with feeling" - Carles Puigdemont
As well as Belgium, five other countries are holding celebrations for the Diada this weekend: the United States, France, Germany, Ireland and also the Netherlands.