Esquerra is working to make the anniversary coincide with the inauguration of Pere Aragonès at the presidency of Catalonia’s Generalitat Government

Founded in 1931, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya will turn 90 this week. A milestone that Esquerra will celebrate with events and campaigns and a sense of pride: “We will celebrate 90 years of history governed by republicanism, freedom and equality; our raison d’être has been, is and will always be to defend the rights of the people,” said Deputy Secretary General and party spokesperson, Marta Vilalta, at a press conference.

“It has been nine decades in which repression has unfortunately been a dominant feature, with the imprisonment and exile of our leaders and even the execution of President Lluís Companys,” Vilalta recalled. But it is still “almost a century of honest, courageous and tireless work for independence, feminism and anti-fascism; 90 years of pristine history, with not one single case of corruption,” said the republican, assuring that “we will continue to give our all to make Catalonia a just, prosperous and free country.”

“The country needs a strong, stable, loyal and tight-knit government”

This year is also specially outstanding because of Esquerra Republicana’s momentous results in the Catalan elections of 14 February, which have given the party the chance of return to the presidency of the Generalitat 80 years on. “We are working to make the anniversary coincide with the inauguration of Pere Aragonès at the presidency of Catalonia’s Generalitat Government,” said Ms Vilalta, now that the new Parliament has now been constituted – with a majority pro-independence, progressive bureau – with the pro-independence parties in the midst of negotiations to form a government.

The Republican spokeswoman urged an accord “at the service of the country.” “We must open a new stage marked by social recovery, reconstruction, anti-fascism and progress towards the Catalan Republic.” She likewise remarked that “it wont be for lack of our acting responsibly and generously, thinking of the common good and siding with the people.”

For Esquerra the new government must therefore function “out of respect, loyalty, and constant effort.” “The country needs a strong, stable, loyal and tight-knit government to deal with the crisis and to stand by the people. That’s why we will work and work ever harder to sum and forge on,” Ms Vilalta concluded.

Founded in 1931, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya will turn 90 this week. A milestone that Esquerra will celebrate with events and campaigns and a sense of pride: “We will celebrate 90 years of history governed by republicanism, freedom and equality; our raison d’être has been, is and will always be to defend the rights of the people,” said Deputy Secretary General and party spokesperson, Marta Vilalta, at a press conference.