Faced with the presence of the King of Spain at the opening of the legislature at the Congress of Deputies, Esquerra Republicana, EH.Bildu and BNG have issued a joint statement rejecting the monarchy and reaffirming their commitment to the Republics

In their joint manifesto, the three pro-independence parties recall the lack of democratic legitimacy of the Spanish monarchy and its hostility towards the processes of national emancipation, and especially to the Catalan pro-independence process that culminated in the self-determination referendum of on October 1, 2017. This is the text of the manifesto:

The pro-independence, sovereigntist and republican political forces signing this declaration hereby affirm that:

Monarchy is an anachronistic institution, incompatible with essential democratic principles since it is hereditary and perpetual. In the case of the Spanish State, moreover, this anti-democratic character is accentuated by the fact that it was imposed by dictator General Franco and is, as such, a legacy of Francoism.

The Spanish Monarchy is a rank that does not respond to the republican values of freedom, equality and democracy that both the citizens of our peoples and the social majorities of in Spain aspire to. A true democracy will only be possible with a break with such a heritage, the basis and values represented by the King and the figure of the monarchy.

That is why we consider that the King and the Monarchy, unelected in democracy, must cease exercising their guardianship over the people and over their governments and parliaments. Only in this way can progress be made in freedom and democracy.

Thus, the Spanish monarchy and the King of Spain do not represent us. The majority of the Catalan, Basque and Galician people reject the figure of a monarchical institution which is also linked to the objective of maintaining and imposing the unity of Spain and its laws, thus denying the civil, political and national rights to which our citizens and our peoples are entitled.

In the democratic path to freedom for our peoples, which is not only a legitimate aspiration but which cannot be deferred, the Spanish King is not a valid interlocutor. Nor does the monarchy have the legitimacy bestowed by our peoples, and we do not recognize any political function therein. Still less when its role before our nations has been none other than an attempt to impose anti-democratic projects and values.

We therefore reaffirm our will to continue working to make effective the ideal of democracy, freedom and republics, sooner rather than later.