Catalonia’s Leaders Gather in France to Pay Tribute to Pau Casals Amidst Political Dialogues

Carles Puigdemont met this Monday in the south of France with the President of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonés, and several former leaders.

Jordi Pujol, José Montilla or Quim Torra have attended the tribute to Pau Casals, which is organized by the Catalan Summer University (UCE) in the abbey of Sant Miquel de Cuixà, in Codalet, with the negotiations for the investiture of Pedro Sánchez as a backdrop in the background. There they have left an unpublished image at a crucial moment.

In full conversations between the PSOE and Junts, the sovereign leader who fled after 1-O has launched a notice between the lines, although without directly mentioning the ongoing negotiation process.

“Casals did not seek a personal solution for himself, but for the country, we have the duty to continue doing the same for the country, for the language and for its people,” he said at the end of his speech.

“When we ask that Catalan be a language of Europe […] we do it following the same thread as the generations that preceded us, but thinking of others and not only of ourselves,” he added..

Pere Aragonès, for his part, greeted Puigdemont and immediately called for “more than ever” amnesty and self-determination to resolve the “political conflict”, in his words, caused by the State’s refusal to recognize the right of Catalonia to decide freely about their future.

He has assured verbatim that this Monday is an exceptional act because it has to take place outside of Spain “because of the repression that is still going on”.

“It is essential that the resolution of the political conflict be advanced and progress is made within the framework of a fully democratic solution so that this act ceases to be exceptional and becomes a democratic normality,” he added.

Aragonés has highlighted the figure of Pau Casals and his “commitment to democracy and freedom, being an icon of pacifism and anti-fascism”.

In addition, he has assured that he is “a universal figure, a benchmark and a source of pride” for Catalans, since he defended institutions, harmony and world peace.

Regarding Casals’ nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, Aragonés highlighted: “It is surely one of the moments that, as a country, we have engraved in our collective memory”. “He kept the flame of dignity through his talent and work.

He could have been one of the presidents of the Generalitat. It is a meeting point for Catalanism, a cornerstone of the country, one of the Catalans with the most squares and streets in the country”, he added.

“Regression of Catalan”

Aragonés has denied being able to speak of “national plenitude because there is still no democratic plenitude”, and has lamented the decline in the use of Catalan and has urged to promote it again.

“It is undeniable that we have made a lot of progress, not as much as we would like, but we have overcome stages of resistance, although it is clear that we still have a long way to go,” said Aragonés, and has literally urged to continue building the Catalan nation with an inclusive perspective.

Former President Jordi Pujol, of the former Convergence, also present at the event, has shown his “particular appreciation” to Puigdemont at a time when, in his opinion, the identity and the Catalan language are “in danger”. For this reason, he has called on all the citizens of Catalonia to defend it.

Quim Torra, another Junts president who took office after Puigdemont, has also valued Casals’ ability to “distinguish morality in politics” and his idea of Catalanness. Although one of the most controversial moments has come in the turn of José Montilla.

The former Catalan president, from the PSC, has spoken of “dialogue and pacts”, in reference to the support of pro-independence parties for the investiture of the government of Pedro Sánchez.

Montilla’s intention was to appeal to a plural and diverse Spain, something that did not sit well with those present at the event.

“The homogeneous and excluding Spain has to give way to a fraternal Spain, respectful of diversity and capable of to manage its plurality”, the expresident literally said.

After his speech, the most radical attendees have shouted “independence” and have whistled with greater intensity.