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1.4 million rally for independence in Barcelona
RT,
11
September, 2015
At
least 1.4 million of Catalans have filled the streets of Barcelona,
calling for secession from Spain, as the region prepares to go to the
polls in what local politicians say will serve as a proxy vote for
independence.
The
rally’s organizers said that up to 2 million demonstrators took to
the streets of Barcelona, while the Catalan news agency (CNA) put the
figure at 1.4 million people.
“We
see the immense capacity of the mobilization of our people, who want
to be listened to. We want the world to see that,” the leader of
the ‘Junts pel Sí’ (Together for Yes) coalition, Raul Romeva,
said, as cited by CNA.
The
massive pro-independence rally, dubbed “Gateway to the Catalan
Republic” (Via Lliure cap a la República Catalana), took place on
Catalonia’s national Day, September 11.
Jordi
Sanchez, the president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) said he
believed the rally will be one of the largest in Catalonia’s
history.
The
demonstrators, who marched under banners bearing the slogan "Let's
start building a new country" came to Barcelona from all parts
of Catalonia by car, buses and rail.
The
rally stretched along one of the city’s main avenues.
In
the late afternoon, people started filling the streets of Barcelona
for the march that was scheduled to start at 17:14 (15:14 GMT) local
time, referring to the year 1714 when Barcelona was defeated by
Bourbon troops. The Catalans lost their independence and sovereignty
to Spanish and French forces in the War of the Spanish Succession on
September 11 of that year. Since 1886, it has been celebrated as the
National Day of Catalonia, or Diada in Spanish.
A
giant arrow pointer, symbolizing the way to the Catalan Republic, was
carried along Meridiana Avenue. The march started at Roselló Porcel
Street, considered the entrance to Barcelona, and continued all the
way up to the Catalan parliament located in Parc de la Ciutadella.
Along
its route, the yellow arrow sign was welcomed by crowds shouting
“independencia”.
The
arrow reached the parliament at 18:00.
The demonstration took place on the same day as the kick off of an electoral campaign that has been framed as a de facto vote on the region’s secession from the rest of Spain. Catalonia’s regional election is to take place on September 27.
The
“Together for Yes” (‘Junts pel Sí’) coalition is expected to
win a majority of at least 68 seats in the 135-seat regional
assembly.
Catalan
President Artur Mas said on Friday that he would rather count “votes
instead of seats,” but “all attempts to organize a referendum
have been blocked” by the Spanish government, CNA reported.
Mas,
who is running with “Together for Yes,” said the election is the
“only legal option” left to Catalonia to find out how many people
are in favor of independence.
“If
we win, if we have a majority of MPs, we will be open to negotiate
with Madrid, Brussels and all European capitals in order to get an
agreement. We’ll have a positive attitude,” he said.
The
organizers said Friday’s rally is an attempt to show the will of
the vast majority of the Catalan people and a last plea for a
referendum on independence from Spain. The demonstration is “to be
the last one with a vindicatory purpose,” said Carme Forcadell,
former president of the ANC.
While
Madrid refused to comment on the Friday’s demonstration in
Barcelona, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s deputy called it
an “electoral event” for Catalan President Artur Mas, according
to CNA.
Historically
Catalonia has been one of Spain’s better-off regions, accounting
for one-fifth of the country’s economic output. The local
population has been dissatisfied with their taxes being used by
Madrid to support poorer areas of the country.
Spanish
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said that Catalonia’s secession
would be illegal, while EU officials have warned Catalonia that it
would have to leave the bloc if it seceded.
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