Barcelona mayor and her party support referendum

Ada Colau does not consider the vote binding but thinks that a high turnout will be “very important” for making Madrid negociate 

Barcelona mayor Ada Colau (by Patrícia Mateos)
Barcelona mayor Ada Colau (by Patrícia Mateos) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

September 15, 2017 02:19 PM

It was a long awaited decision, but it finally arrived at the eleventh hour, with the campaign already underway. Barcelona mayor Ada Colau’s left-leaning party, Catalunya en Comú, will take part in the October 1 referendum. Its members voted in favor of calling citizens to vote, despite Spain’s actions against it. A party spokesperson said that the “repressive wave” led by the Spanish government might have helped their members make the decision. “It is time to stand up to the fear strategy,” she added.

However Catalunya en Comú does not consider the referendum binding, but rather a further mobilization to demand the “right to decide”. Colau said that if the turnout is high, it will be “a very important message” which should force Madrid to negotiate. On Saturday, mayors from all over Catalonia will hold a demonstration in central Barcelona, and Colau said on Friday that she will welcome them in the city hall.