Pere Aragonès sworn in as 132nd president of Catalonia

Pere Aragonès of Esquerra Republicana has been sworn in as the 132nd president of Catalonia in a ceremony that took place in the Catalan government headquarters in Barcelona on Monday evening. 

Upon his arrival in Plaça Sant Jaume, where the government headquarters building is located, Aragonès laid a rose by the Stolpersteine memorial stone of the last Esquerra Republicana president of Catalonia, Lluís Companys, who was executed by Francoist forces after the civil war.  

Present at the ceremony were various figures from the Catalan political sphere, including parliament speaker Laura Borràs, the former president Quim Torra, Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, and leaders from the unionist Socialist party, Miquel Iceta, Salvador Illa, and Eva Granados.

The 131st Catalan president, Quim Torra, presented Aragonès with the presidential medal at the ceremony. 

The ERC leader promised a "new era" for Catalonia in his speech where he also spoke of his will to lead a government that "rolls up" its sleeves, necessary to "raise its head again" and vowed to leave nobody behind. 

He said that "today begins a new government" which he defined as "non-conformist, transformative, innovative, feminist, and republican," and "with an unwavering commitment to make life kinder and happier for each and every citizen of Catalonia."

Aragonés thanked his predecessor, Quim Torra, "for his dedication to the country during some extremely difficult years," owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the political turmoil following the 2017 independence push in 2017 when Torra took office.

Aragonès also called for a pro-European Catalan republic, open, and "committed to global challenges," with a government "at the service of its people." New to the government in his administration will be the departments for climate action and feminism. 

The new president said the new administration must be built "by advancing social rights and strengthening the welfare state," which "attends to all citizens."

However, he acknowledged that the challenge is "major" and that he is "fully aware of the difficulties" that the health, economic, and political crises and challenges pose.

Araongès also spoke about his commitment to "shake up the country" and deliver on his promises for an amnesty and to "make self-determination inevitable" in spite of "the enormously complicated situation."

"We must move forward in the pursuit of the common good, shared prosperity, and the well-being for all,” he said.