Flower offering to 1714 patriot Rafael Casanova on Catalonia’s National Day

Barcelona (CNA).- All the political parties represented in the Catalan Parliament, with the exception of the conservative People’s Party (PP), anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans (C’s) and radical independence party CUPpaid the traditional tribute to Rafael Casanova’s statue and recalled the day the city fell to Bourbon troops on the 11^th of September 1714.  At 9 o’clock this morning, flowers were placed at the monument of Barcelona’s Chief Councilor, who died defending the city during a 14-month military siege over 300 years ago. Political party members were led by President Mas and the Catalan Parliament spokeswoman Núria de Gispert, and during their tribute, the ‘Banda Municipal de Barcelona’ interpreted ‘Els Segadors’, Catalonia’s national anthem. Civil society organisations such as FC Barcelona, RCD Espanyol, and Òmnium Cultural (the main organisation promoting Catalan culture and language) also participated in the event.

The first to arrive was Catalan President Artur Mas, with all the representatives of the executive. During their flower offering, the ‘Banda Municipal de Barcelona played ‘Els Segadors’, Catalonia’s national anthem. Later, it was the turn of the members of the Catalan Parliament, with the exception of those from the conservative People’s Party (PP), anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans (C’s) and radical independence party CUP. Led by Catalan Parliament spokeswoman Núria de Gispert, they paid tribute to Rafael de Casanova. The third institution to attend the commemoration was Barcelona’s City Hall.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau’s first flower offering

Barcelona’s Mayor Ada Colau attended for the first time this year the flower offering at the Rafael de Casanova statue. Colau, elected in May this year, stated that even though she won’t attend the ‘Via Lliure’ demonstration later in the day, she wished it to be “a success”. She also urged the Spanish government to “allow a referendum” to measure Catalan’s position regarding the independence process.

Several parties absent

The candidates for the conservative PP, which currently holds power in the central Spanish government, and the anti-Catalan nationalism C’s refused to take part in the tribute to Casanova this morning, as the event is symbolic of Catalonia’s aim for independence from Spain, which both parties are against. Radical independence party CUP was also absent.

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Candidates from pro-independence unitary list ‘Junts Pel Sí’, andthe list formed by the Catalan Green-Socialist party ICV and alternative left-wing Podem (the Catalan branch of the Spanish party Podemos)under the name 'Catalunya Sí que es pot' also attended the commemoration. Although they don’t have representation in the Catalan Government as a members of this list, they still paid tribute to one of Catalonia’s most iconic heroes.

Most traditional event on Catalonia’s National Day

The tribute paid to Casanova is the first and most traditional of the many events commemorating Catalonia’s National Day on the 11^th of September as it symbolises the loss of Catalonia’s sovereignty, freedom and rights. The event was not only attended by political figures but by institutions and organisations promoting Catalan culture and language.

However, other events will also take place throughout the day. The Catalan Parliament in the ‘Parc de la Ciutadella’ and the Palau de la Generalitat, (the Catalan Government’s headquarters located on ‘Plaça Sant Jaume’) are open to the public from 10am until 7pm and a mass demonstration supporting Catalan independence has been organised for the afternoon by the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Òmnium Cultural, the two main pro-independence civil society organisations. Over 360,000 people have registered to participate in the ‘Via Lliure cap a la República Catalana’ (‘Gateway to the Catalan Republic’) demonstration. The rally will make its way along a 5.2km stretch, from the ‘Parc de la Ciutadella’ – where the Catalan Parliament is located – to the outskirts of the Catalan capital, symbolically linking the institution that represents Catalonia's sovereignty with the streets of Barcelona and the rest of the country.

11^th of September 1714

The homage paid to Casanova commemorates the day when Barcelona, and consequently Catalonia as a whole, finally succumbed to the Bourbon troops of Philip V, after a brutal military siege that had lasted for 14 months. The 11^th of September 1714 saw Catalonia’s defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession, and consequently its loss of sovereignty, self-government institutions and Constitution. The rendition meant that from that day on, the new regime imposed harsh political, economic, social and cultural repression that lasted until the 1970s.