Spokeswoman Marta Vilalta says that “the cases of political espionage are very serious” but that Esquerra will not allow the movement to be “destabilized” and condemns “all the police operations.”

“It is clear that they are going for the independence movement and they are going for Esquerra Republicana,” said deputy secretary general and spokeswoman Marta Vilalta on the arrests and leaks that have occurred in the midst of the new operation by Spain against independence. Ms Vilalta announced that Esquerra is exploring “legal action, both here and at the European and international level, condemning all the police operations” with the intention of striking at the dirty war against the independence movement. In Ms Vilalta’s opinion, “bugging political opponents and leaking content that has nothing to do with the facts allegedly under investigation is political espionage. It is very, very serious.”

In the face of all this, the spokeswoman affirmed that Spain’s foul play aims to stop “by any means necessary those who represent real change, meaning the independence of Catalonia.” “They listen in to find out what we will do and leak it in order to try and torpedo both the independence movement and the negotiations with the Spanish government that are meant to lead us to a democratic solution to the conflict,” she stated. Ms Vilalta went on to say that “the deep state is nervous, they want to destabilize us. They don’t want the people of Catalonia to be able to decide for themselves, they don’t want resolution of the political conflict. But we will respond and make good,” she added.

We will not play their game, we will not fall for the state’s dirty war. We need to establish an accord with all the democrats against repression

Marta Vilalta Spokeswoman of Esquerra Republicana

In this regard, Esquerra has made it clear that any attempt to rattle and divide the independence movement will not work. “We will not play their game, we will not fall for the state’s dirty war. We need to establish an accord with all the democrats against repression, against covert operations and false accusations that mean to divide the independence movement.” Ms Vilalta further remarked that Esquerra would demand “explanations from the Spanish government: are they backing this operation?”

The Deputy Secretary General reiterated that this general persecution means to “frighten and cow” the people under investigation and the independence movement as a whole because “they have not yet overcome the ridicule they had to endure during the Catalan referendum in October 2017” she admitted. Ms Vilalta also condemned the fact that they want to “mix corruption and embezzlement with independence.” “Honesty annoys them, because what Esquerra represents after 90 years of history and no cases of corruption really unnerves them,” she declared.

Finally, Ms Vilalta pointed out in her statement that “we will persist with our usual steadfastness and find political and democratic solutions to resolve the conflict with the state, making amnesty and self-determination possible.” Every fresh operation is simply further evidence and yet another argument for our own Catalan state, guaranteeing rights and opportunities for everyone,” she concluded.