New pro-independence civil society leader rejects unilateral independence just after Catalan elections

Barcelona (ACN).- Jordi Sánchez, the new President of the civil society organisation Catalan National Assembly (ANC), which co-organised the massive pro-independence rallies of 2012, 2013 and 2014, has ruled out the possibility of unilaterally declaring independence the day after the next Catalan Parliament elections, should a clear majority of pro-independence parties win. These elections are presented by the Catalan Government and by the parties supporting independence as a ‘de facto’ plebiscite on this issue, since it is the only option left to hold a legal self-determination vote after the unilateral veto and no-to-everything attitude of the Spanish Government during the last two-and-a-half years. However, even though Sánchez completely supports such a plebiscite, he stated that a unilateral declaration of independence on the day after “would not be possible” and “it is not the road to take”. “I will not send signals about things I believe will not happen”, added Sánchez, who on Saturday was elected to lead the ANC and replace the already former president, Carme Forcadell.

On Saturday, Jordi Sánchez was elected by a two-thirds majority by the members of the new ANC’s Secretary National. This is the top governing body of the ANC and its members were chosen the previous week by the organisation delegates. Currently, Sánchez is the Deputy Catalan Ombudsman and had run as an independent in the past with the Catalan Green Socialist and post-Communist Coalition ICV-EUiA.

Jordi Sánchez was the frontrunner to lead the ANC, representing a wide scope of social sectors and with good relations to many political parties. Furthermore, his profile, which is closely bound to social movements, better connects the main pro-independence organisation in Catalonia to social policies and rights. However, ten days ago, he was only the fourth most-voted ANC member to become part of the 75-member National Secretariat with 4,692 votes. This election was not to elect the organisation’s President but rather its governing body, which will later chose the President. However, his predecessor, Carme Forcadell, had also been the most-voted member of the National Secretariat.

Last Saturday, a two-thirds majority of the National Secretariat voted for Sánchez, while the other third voted for the American translator and technology writer Liz Castro, who was the most-voted ANC member ten days ago with 5,186 in support. According to Sánchez, Castro will have “an essential role” in the organisation in order to strengthen its international impact.

In his acceptance speech, Sánchez highlighted that the ANC is “not going backwards in its efforts to conquer freedom and to build [Catalonia’s] own state”. The new President emphasised that the association’s main and final objective is to build a Catalan Republic “fairer, more equalitarian and where everybody can become an essential actor, no matter where he or she was born”.

Increasing pedagogy and launching a debate about the advantages and disadvantages of independence

On Sunday and Monday, Sánchez was interviewed by different media and said that the ANC has to now go through a more “pedagogical” stage and not to be so focused on “agitation”, because the pro-independence social base needs to be widened, beyond “family name, language and origin”. The ANC must go to “all corners of our society” and talk to everybody, launching a debate about the advantages and disadvantages of independence, he said. “It is not a debate about identity, but a debate about our children’s progress”, he highlighted.

Sánchez stated that he is convinced that there is no alternative majority beyond the group of parties supporting self-determination. Therefore, he believes that pro self-determination parties will clearly win the next Catalan Parliament elections (scheduled for 27 September), but also that parties supporting independence will also win. For this reason, he thinks that a constituent process will gradually start after the elections, with the details of this emerging over time.

In the same vein, he said that independence will not arrive the day after the elections through a unilateral declaration. “It is not possible”, he stressed. However he does see independence coming as the result of a constituent process launched by the newly elected Catalan Parliament and shared by a majority of parties. This process should also promote a “radical change” regarding transparency, improving the relations between citizens and politics, he added.