Today is a sad day for democracy and for Catalonia. The Spanish state once again seeks to decide on behalf of the Catalans. The Supreme Court has decided to disqualify the president of the Catalan Generalitat government for defending freedom of expression.

President Torra has us at his side. Now and always.

Only the Parliament of Catalonia, by mandate of its citizens, can decide who is to be the President of the Catalan Generalitat government. Only the ballot. But we are not in a democratic state.

We have seen our rights oppressed. Spanish injustice against democracy. Courts silencing the ballot.
This is a new, unprecedented attack by the Spanish state on democracy. Yet another element in the general cause of lawfare against independence, continuing in its attempt to put an end to political ideals.

But they must know one thing: they may disqualify, ban, fine, or jail us, but they cannot imprison our ideas. Today more than ever, we reaffirm our struggle for the freedom of our nation, for the independence of Catalonia as the only definitive way to end the repression of a straying, hurt, outdated and demo-phobic state. We want independence to build a better nation, where democrats are not imprisoned for calling to the ballot, or presidents disqualified for defending freedom.

They will never be able to debar the ideas and the craving for justice and freedom of a people, one that wants to freely decide what its future is to be.

And if ousting a democratically elected president is a democratic scandal, it is even more serious and reckless to do so in the midst of a pandemic.

In the face of this fresh assault on the sovereignty of the people of Catalonia and of our institutions, we call our citizens to ensure the strongest possible government to pilot the country during this interim, provisional period provoked by the decision of a reckless court. Our twin aims are to continue advancing towards the Catalan Republic, and to face the health, economic and social crises, to lead the reconstruction and progress of our country, because the indispensable necessities of the people cannot wait.

Responsibility, consensus, strategic unity and the very greatest solidarity in the face of repression in these sombre times for our country. Now more than ever, we need to work together to deal with our common adversary. And we do so with the utmost empathy for the citizens and all those who are suffering fierce repression and the effects of a cruel pandemic.

The political repression wants us paralysed, divided and defeated. In the face of this, greater political action, greater unity, and greater resolve than ever. And we will see the nation’s response.

It is time to care for the nation. And we are convinced that we will all know how to live up to the demands of this historic moment.

We will gather in the streets and squares of all our towns and make the voice of freedom heard against repression. And as often as there are ballots, we will show that the strength of independence grows every single day. Democracy will always, always win.

The events today is but one more step on an irreversible path to freedom. President Torra, we will do it for you, as well as for all the citizens. And most of all we will do it with you. Until we gain the Catalan Republic.

28th of September, 2020