Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, Basque EH Bildu, Galician BNG and Balearic Ara Més call for anti-fascism in Madrid, free of discrepancy regarding the advancement of national and social rights

The lead candidate on the Esquerra ticket for the European parliamentary elections Diana Riba, and party leader Oriol Junqueras claimed in Madrid today that Ara Repúbliques is the best tool in Europe to progress towards a referendum for the self-determination of Catalonia and to guarantee social rights in Europe. “We are out to win rights, liberties and sovereignty” remarked Ms Riba. “With this alliance, we will make a European Clarity Law [equivalent to Quebec's Clarity Act] possible, recognizing the right to self-determination of peoples as a European right,” explained Esquerra's candidate. “We mean to gain more rights for individuals and peoples. And we must advance with freedom, without leaving anyone behind,” she explained.

In this regard, Esquerra Republicana leader Oriol Junqueras insisted that to defend freedom, every vote counts. “We are doing it for our people, we are doing it for all peoples. Defending democracy means defending it everywhere. We are pro-independence, pro-Europe, republican and internationalist,” he remarked. “And we also mean to defend the rights of our workers, who face threats in all countries. We want effective policies that defend the working- and the middle-classes. A Europe that puts resources into dignity for the people,” he concluded.

The event was also attended by representatives from the other political parties that make up the European election ticket, including Néstor Rego of Galician BNG, Oskar Matute of Basque EH Bildu and Mercè Chumillas of Balearic Ara Més.