Esquerra Republicana's leader affirms that the national ambition that the country now “needs and deserves” is to place “all the resources it generates” at its service

Esquerra Leader Oriol Junqueras headed the party delegation at the first events celebrating Catalonia’s National Day on 11th September, heading the party’s wreath-laying procession at the monument to the hero of the 1714 defence of Barcelona Rafael de Casanova in the capital. After the ceremony and in statements to the media, Mr Junqueras defended that the struggle for independence and the Catalan republic “is inextricably linked to the struggle for economic prosperity and social justice in our country.” “Both causes are one and the same,” he assured.

Mr Junqueras avowed that throughout its history, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya “has always fought on both these fronts, seeking to place all the resources this country generates, needs and deserves, at its service.” “This is the true national ambition that Catalonia, and the Catalans, need and deserve”, he said.

Esquerra’s Secretary General Elisenda Alamany stated during the pro-independence demonstration in the afternoon that “in the face of those who believe that Catalonia is just another autonomous community and who want to weaken and pacify us,” there continues to be “a people who believe in their nation, who mean to strengthen the country and for Catalan to be the majority language.” “Today, we commemorate that Catalonia continues to stand, we are a living people and a living nation”, she said.