The Catalan National Assembly believes the National Day could mark a turning point after years marked by repression, divisions and demobilisation
The seven people who served as presidents of the Catalan National Assembly since its foundation united today at the organisation’s national headquarters in an exceptional gathering intended to symbolise the Assemblea’s breadth and determination.
Dolors Marín, Carme Forcadell, Jordi Sànchez, Elisenda Paluzie, Dolors Feliu, Lluís Llach and the current president, Josep Vila, shared the same message: the phases and the people may change, but Assemblea’s goal remains the same: to work towards independence through a transverse and diverse Catalan pro-independence movement.
During the meeting, the seven presidents agreed on the importance of the role the Catalan National Assembly has played over the past fifteen years and highlighted its ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and with different sensibilities around a single goal: to make Catalonia’s independence possible.
In this context, all seven presidents made a joint call to take part in the Catalan National Day demonstration. They also used the gathering to appeal to everyone to get involved in the independence movement while embracing its diversity. “The drive for independence is emerging again; we are bringing the period of mourning to an end,” Vila stated. And added “Momentum is returning, and on 11 September this year we have the opportunity to prove it.”
Under the slogan “I AM HERE. WE ARE HERE. For the present and for the future: INDEPENDENCE,” the organisation is calling on people to take part in the 11 September mobilisations and turn them into a collective expression of determination: “We need to restore citizens’ confidence and their ability to mobilise and organise themselves once again.”
The seven presidents of the Catalan National Assembly are:
- Dolors Marín (2011–2012)
- Carme Forcadell (2012–2015)
- Jordi Sànchez (2015–2017)
- Elisenda Paluzie (2018–2022)
- Dolors Feliu (2022–2024)
- Lluís Llach (2024–2026)
- Josep Vila (2026–)