Esquerra leader Oriol Junqueras meets prominent personalities, including First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Adams

A delegation headed by Esquerra Republicana leader Oriol Junqueras held meetings with prominent political figures in the North of Ireland last weekend to forge alliances with Catalonia. On Saturday, Mr Junqueras met First Minister Michelle O'Neill to share impressions on the worrying political context marked by global instability and the rise of the far right. The Catalan Republicans are in the North of Ireland, coinciding with Sinn Féin’s Ard Fheis conference.

Mr Junqueras contrasted opinions with Ms O'Neill on the many similar challenges the Catalan and the Irish nations face.

Esquerra’s representatives participated as guests at Sinn Féin’s Conference, where amongst others they heard speeches by party President Mary Lou McDonald, and the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill. Esquerra Republicana and Sinn Féin recognize that their organizations must continue to work together, more so in the current context in which the left must remain united in their action worldwide.

In this regard, both have expressed their commitment to holding regular meetings and to maintain their rapport, essentially strategic for both parties. These meetings serve to reflect on how to deal with the current crises that affect both states, such as access to housing and energy prices, which affect Ireland especially.

The meeting held with the Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins, served to share the need to face challenges such as the management of large infrastructures, especially railways. The meeting with the Member of Parliament responsible for language and culture at the European Parliament, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, also served to cooperate in the field of language and to work to strengthen both Gaelic and Catalan.