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Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont launches new party Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont launches new party
(35 minutes later)
A year after threatening the unity of Spain with an attempt to declare independence, the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont launched a new party on Saturday, as he tries to rally separatists from his base in Belgium. A year after threatening the unity of Spain with an attempt to declare independence, the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont launched a new party on Saturday, as part of a new bid to rally separatists from his base in Belgium.
The new group, named “The Call”, held a founding congress Saturday evening, marking the one-year anniversary of the secession push, but it has struggled to attract a groundswell of support, with some allies being held in Spanish jails and others choosing a more moderate political path. The new group, named Crida Nacional (National Call), held a founding congress on Saturday evening, marking the one-year anniversary of the secession push, but it has struggled to attract a groundswell of support, with some allies being held in Spanish jails and others choosing a more moderate political path.
The meeting of Puigdemont’s new party was held in the pro-independence town of Manresa, in the centre of Catalonia, near to the prison where independence leaders are being held. The meeting of Puigdemont’s new party was held in the pro-independence town of Manresa, in the centre of Catalonia, near the prison where independence leaders are being held.
“A year ago we decided that we would continue the fight, whatever the conditions and circumstances, and that we would commit ourselves to building a better country, a republic,” said Puigdemont said in Brussels of the new party.“A year ago we decided that we would continue the fight, whatever the conditions and circumstances, and that we would commit ourselves to building a better country, a republic,” said Puigdemont said in Brussels of the new party.
In a speech relayed on a giant screen to his supporters, he alluded to divisions within the separatist camp, insisting on “moving forward united” rather than apportioning blame.In a speech relayed on a giant screen to his supporters, he alluded to divisions within the separatist camp, insisting on “moving forward united” rather than apportioning blame.
However many of his former allies who have adopted more moderate and pragmatic positions have refused to join the new party. However, many of his former allies who have adopted more moderate and pragmatic positions have refused to join the new party.
The current Catalan leader Quim Torra, in a sombre televised address to mark the October 27, 2017 declaration of independence said “the year that separates us from this historic date did not unfold as we wished” but added that “turning back is not an option”. The current Catalan leader, Quim Torra, in a sombre televised address to mark the October 27 2017 declaration of independence, said: “The year that separates us from this historic date did not unfold as we wished … [but] turning back is not an option.”
The independence declaration threw Spain into political turmoil, with the central government ousting Puigdemont, who then fled to Belgium, dissolving parliament and imposing direct control over the wealthy northeastern region. The independence declaration threw Spain into political turmoil, with the central government ousting Puigdemont, who then fled to Belgium, dissolving parliament and imposing direct control over the wealthy north-eastern region.
Snap polls in December saw separatist parties once again win an absolute majority in the regional parliament. Polls in December saw separatist parties once again win an absolute majority in the regional parliament.
But Torra, who regularly seeks counsel from Puigdemont, presides over a Catalan government divided between those who back disobedience to advance the cause of independence and those who favour dialogue with new Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez. But Torra, who regularly seeks counsel from Puigdemont, presides over a Catalan government divided between those who back disobedience to advance the cause of independence and those who favour dialogue with new Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez.
The trial of 18 former Catalan leaders over their role in the separatist push, expected to start in early 2019, helps to keep the separatist camp mobilised. The trial of 18 former Catalan leaders over their role in the separatist push, expected to start in early 2019, has helped to keep the separatist camp mobilised.
Carles PuigdemontCarles Puigdemont
CataloniaCatalonia
SpainSpain
EuropeEurope
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