Institutions and politicians celebrate Catalonia's National Day with floral tribute to 1714 patriot

Catalan institutions and political parties marked the start of the 2023 Catalan National Day with a floral offering at the statue of Rafael Casanova in Barcelona. He was the Catalan capital's chief councilor during the 1714 Spanish War of Succession and died defending Barcelona.

'La Diada' in Catalan began on Monday morning with authorities honoring Casanova, who fell injured during the fall of the city on September 11, 1714. The leader, once the territory lost its sovereignty, went on to become an icon in the quest to demand greater freedoms and self-rule.

Government officials and other prominent politicians, including President Pere Aragonès, parliament speaker Anna Erra, and the mayor of the Catalan capital, Jaume Collboni, laid flowers beside the monument that commemorates the commander-in-chief of Catalonia during the siege of Barcelona at the end of the Spanish War of Succession.

Several entities also laid flowers to Casanova, such as FC Barcelona, Espanyol football club, several Castellers groups, Pompeu Fabra university, Barcelona Autonomous University, and the city's firefighters, among many others. 

Check out our podcast on La Diada to find out all about the National Day in detail: 

The floral tribute, a long-standing tradition, has taken on added significance in recent years due to the ongoing territorial tensions between Spain and Catalonia.

Spanish acting PM: "time to look into the future"

Coinciding with Catalonia's National Day, Spanish acting PM Pedro Sánchez wished all Catalans a good 'Diada' via social media X, previously known as Twitter. In his post, Sánchez said that Catalonia "opened a new path of progress, understanding, and coexistence," and now "is the time to look into the future and continue to move forward." 

The post, written in Spanish and Catalan, is accompanied by a picture with the Senyera, Catalonia's flag, and the date accompanied by 'Diada de Catalunya.'

"Amnesty is necessary," government says

Hours after Catalan president Pere Aragonès' speech on Sunday night, foreign minister Meritxell Serret confirmed the government's position.

"Amnesty is necessary to put an end to all the repression and to set the ground and the opportunity to have a real political negotiation [between Catalonia and Spain]," she told Catalan News after laying a floral tribute to the statue of Rafael Casanova.

The negotiation will allow to go "to the root" of the conflict between Spain and Catalonia and let "the majority of the Catalan society" decide about the territory's future, she added. The situation after the Spanish election in July forces the cabinet to be "aware of the major negotiation that we need now, that we have the political conditions," she said.

Referring to this weekend's tragic events in Morocco, Serret recommended to citizens to "not do random activities" and to follow local authorities and NGOs acting on the field to give "a real response to the needs on the ground."

Pro-independence parties: 'Diada of opportunity'

'La Diada' is also one of the most political days across the calendar in Catalonia. This year comes amid the Spanish election post-talks, with Catalan pro-independence parties having a key role after the result led to a Spanish-hung parliament.

Parties should "work with the maximum coordination and compliance" to reach an amnesty for those involved in judicial cases for their role in the 2017 independence referendum deemed illegal by Spain and to get a self-determination vote, Marta Vilalta, spokesperson of Esquerra Republicana, said to media outlets. It is important to agree on the "when and how" the independence referendum takes place, she added.

As for Junts per Catalunya, their general secretary Jordi Turull refused to "renounce" any means to achieving independence, including the "unilateral way."

Turull mentioned that Junts are keeping the door open to an "agreement" with Spain, but he underlined that they don't renounce anything: "renouncing the unilateral way would be to renounce the country." 

After the offering to Rafael Casanova, Turull defended that this National Day "must be used to let Spain know who it's facing." In a context of negotiations for the investiture of Pedro Sánchez, he maintained that any political agreement will be to "bring independence closer," while he thanked president Pere Aragonès for the "change of mind" in proposing a joint negotiation with Spain.

Socialists celebrate "plurality" of Catalonia

The leader of the Catalan Socialists, Salvador Illa, pointed out that the National Day is a date where Catalans show their desire to "be and to coexist together." He also said that Catalans wants to face "forward" to have a future "full of opportunities."

The head of the left-leaning party, which won the most votes in Catalonia in the last election, emphasised Catalonia's "plurality" in his speech after the floral tribute to Rafael Casanova.

En Comú Podem call for amnesty

Jéssica Albiach, the leader of En Comú Podem, sees the National Day as "a turning point to start a new era" with an amnesty on the table.

After the floral offering to Rafael Casanova, Albiach insisted that an "amnesty is necessary to culminate the de-judicialization process," and mentioned that this September 11 is "marked by the results of the Spanish elections" which showed "two options: continue to advance in rights and freedoms with the articulation of a progressive majority; or retreat giving a new opportunity to the extreme right and (conservative leader) Alberto Núñez Feijóo."

For Albiach, Catalonia "was very clear in the polls" and "said it wanted more agreements and more dialogue." She also highlighted that "important steps" are being taken, such as the recognition of the Catalan language, and the beginning of a "necessary" debate on amnesty opening.

Parties not attending the tribute

Some parties, like CUP, PP, Ciutadans, and VOX, did not attend the floral tribute in Barcelona. However, they did mostly state their views on the National Day through social media or at alternative political events. 

The leader of the conservative People's Party in Catalonia, Alejandro Fernández, spoke in El Vendrell and said National Day celebrations should be "plural and where everyone feels represented."

"I want to wish everyone a National Day where everyone feels represented, where there is space for everyone no matter where they come from, the language they speak, or their ideas," he said. "That is the plurality we want for Catalonia and that we defend."

Unionist Ciudadanos MP Carlos Carrizosa stated that September 11 is not Catalonia's National Day, but rather April 23, Sant Jordi.

"The real National Day of all Catalans is April 23, Sant Jordi. That is the holiday that all Catalans consider their own, and that is the holiday that all Catalans, without any distinction, go out to the streets," Carrizosa said. "On September 11 only nationalists go out to the streets."

Far-left pro-independence CUP did not attend the floral tribute either and held an alternative event to tribute Gustau Muñoz, a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly shot by a police officer and whose death was never investigated. 

During the tribute, CUP MP Eulàlia Reguant highlighted the importance of "going out to the streets today for independence" and criticized Catalan president Pere Aragonès for "looking for answers in Madrid." 

"What did president Aragonès propose yesterday in his speech? To wait for what they say or do not say in Madrid. We think we've had enough of begging in Congress and in Madrid. What happens there [in Madrid] is not important, but rather what we do and what happens here [in Catalonia]."

Far-right Vox MP Ignacio Garriga, speaking in Madrid but not at any National Day event, said that his party will fight against the idea of an amnesty for pro-independence leaders in the European parliament and "in the streets."

The far-right politician vowed to defend "the unity of Spain with our Constitutional organization and the rule of law in as many parliaments as we have representation, in as many streets as when protests are called."