Pere Aragonès He went this Wednesday to one of the most classic dialogue forums in Madrid, the Club Siglo XXI, to defend the need to seek now, in this “situation” that he sees as propitious, a way out of the Catalan political conflict. The ‘president’ challenged the government of Pedro Sanchez to be brave and call an independence referendum. “The referendum is necessary. The State, which defends that Catalonia continues to be part of Spain, must dare to win democratically. The imposition will not lead to any victory. Dare to win a referendum and dare you can lose, “he launched. In the front row, the spokesperson for the Executive and the Minister of Territorial Policy, Isabel Rodríguez, listened to him., the holder of Universities, Joan Subirats, the ERC spokesperson in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, and the secretary general of the UGT, Pepe Álvarez. Deputies from EH Bildu and PDECat also attended the event, but not from Junts. At the event, he was presented to the public by the former mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena, who defined him as “a man of dialogue.”
“Dare to win a referendum and dare you can lose & rdquor ;, launched the ‘president’
The head of the Catalan Executive repeatedly recalled the consultation in Scotland and said that this is how “mature, advanced societies” react when they are faced with nationalist challenges. “We have to be creative, imaginative to find the possible formula to make the referendum possible “, he pointed out. Neither in his introductory speech nor in the subsequent colloquium with the press and the Aragonese partners did he show concern about not having a date for the new meeting of the dialogue table with the government. On the other hand, he did complain that the Sánchez Executive has not put any on that table “proposal“still. In his opinion,” speculating over time, delaying negotiations, is not an option because it only contributes to generating doubts & rdquor; and the Catalan citizens want “certainties”.
Y what plan b do you have in mind if this forum for dialogue with the central executive fails? He was asked that way, directly, and gave no clue. “Now there is a historic opportunity to negotiate and listen to the positions of both parties. If it is blocked, we will move forward. The important thing is to take advantage of the opportunity now; I am not going to weaken the possibilities of a negotiation,” he replied.
He was also asked what he would think of the possible return of Carles Puigdemont, in case the European justice gives him guarantees that he will not be detained and if he is concerned that he could become the leader of the independence movement. Aragonès assured that it would be “happy“If the ‘president’ returned to Catalonia because he wants the”situation of exile due to the events of 2017“.” I would be satisfied if this happens. Regarding leaderships, in a democracy they are resolved at the ballot box. Recently there have been some results in the elections to the Parliament that have shaped the weights of a few majorities, “he said, referring to the fact that ERC beat Junts at the polls, although the most voted force was the PSC.