The minster for Foreign Action affirms that she will continue to defend herself “as far as it takes” and that “we will not cease until we come to a political and democratic solution” to the political conflict

Esquerra Republicana has conveyed its unmitigated support and solidarity with the Minister for Foreign Action and the European Union, Meritxell Serret, after sentence was handed down by the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia on Wednesday, condemning her for disobedience with one year’s disqualification and a 12,000 euro fine for having contributed to the holding of the independence referendum on 1st October, 2017.

“1-O—the 1st October referendum—was not a crime, because voting, holding a referendum and defending the independence of Catalonia is not a crime; so any conviction is profoundly unjust and is a conviction that goes against all the rights of the citizens of Catalonia and an attack against the right to decide our future by voting,” denounced Esquerra Republicana leader Oriol Junqueras.

“We are extremely proud of having contributed to the democratic victory of the 1-O referendum, to which he Spanish State has only managed to respond with repression, and we reiterate our conviction and commitment that we will win the independence of our country by democratic means,” affirmed Mr Junqueras, who also wished to convey his thanks and support for the minister: “I want to thank her for all her work and express all my solidarity, words of gratitude and solidarity that I am convinced also expresses that of the immense majority of our country’s citizens.”

In her statement, Minister Serret also defended that “putting ballot boxes in polling stations is not a crime, either now or in 2017, and not only was the 1-O referendum not a crime but it was a massive democratic expression that responded to the mandate of a parliamentary majority.”

Ms Serret was the first 1-O referendum exile to return on 11 March, 2021, after three and a half years in Belgium. The verdict of the TSJC is not final and the minister has stated that she will appeal: “I will continue to defend myself as far as it takes.” She also pointed out that “the conflict continues,” making clear that “we will not cease until we come to a political and democratic solution” and “we will never give up” on the goal of attaining the Catalan Republic.

Regarding her current appointment, she said that “The Department of Foreign Action and European Union, which I have the honour of heading, is the focus of my full attention at the moment, and it will continue to be so. I don’t see it any other way. We have done a lot of work in seven months. We are putting Catalonia back on the international agenda, and even though they want to cancel us, we will remain as active and committed as ever, bringing more and better Catalonia to the world.”