Catalonia Progressive Forum endorses 'Declaration of Barcelona on the defense of democracy'

Fourteen left-wing parties from Catalonia, as well as other parts of Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, took part in the first Catalonia Progressive Forum and endorsed the 5-point 'Declaration of Barcelona on the defense of democracy.'

The first edition of the #CatProgressiveForum hosted by @Esquerra_ERC is over. Thanks to all delegates & participants for this very successful event. The 14 parties meeting these 2 days in the Catalan capital also endorsed the “Declaration of #Barcelona in defence of democracy”👇 pic.twitter.com/MUCqkno7NQ

— Jordi Solé🎗🇪🇺 (@jordisolef) June 11, 2022

Hosted by senior Catalan government party Esquerra Republicana, the Scottish National Party, Syriza, Unión por la Esperanza, Sinn Féin, Plaid Cymru, Bloco de Esquerda, Unión Patriótica, Colombia Humana, Die Linke, Bloque Nacionalista Galego, Eh Bildu, Halkların Demokratik Partisi, and Bloc Québécois were also in attendance at the event in Barcelona on Friday and Saturday to discuss threats to democracy. 

According to the declaration, society is currently experiencing a "democratic regression" and a "significant erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms through increasingly restrictive legislation."

The parties believe "decades of neoliberal policies" are to blame for a lack of social cohesion and the rise of individualism, all the while acknowledging "the lack of response and proposals" from the left. 

"Democracies must be able to provide democratic outcomes for the demands of self-determination of people," the text signed by a number of not only Catalan pro-independence parties reads.