Jordi Pujol sponsors a foundation that wants to refloat Catalanism

BarcelonaThe former president of the Generalitat, Jordi Pujol, sponsored the Paral·lel 41 Foundation this Thursday, which aims to refloat Catalanism. This think tank, presided over and promoted by the former Minister of Foreign Action Victòria Alsina, intends to "update" the political movement and return it to the "center of consensus," and was presented at an event at the La Pedrera auditorium, filled with former Convergent officials. Alsina, a councilwoman for Junts in Barcelona and a member of the national executive of Carles Puigdemont's party, aims to transcend the Convergent space and ensure that Catalanism once again becomes the protagonist of the country. A political concept that encompasses diverse sensibilities and is not limited exclusively to independence, but rather recovers the spirit of Artur Mas's 'casa gran' and CiU in general, but wants to go further in the ideological spectrum.

For this reason, the event was presided over by the 'senyera'. "It is time for us all to open a new stage," stated Alsina, referring to the post-Procés era. "Let us look far, think big, and do it together," she declared. The former minister commented that her generation admires Pujol, who "built institutions, modernized the country, defended the language and culture, and placed Catalonia on the world stage"; and she also cited former mayor Pasqual Maragall to add that "in politics, every generation has a job to do." From there, she verbalized her diagnosis after having lived through "2017 with hope, emotion, and contradictions." Although she emphasized that they are their "heirs," they want to "learn from mistakes" and become "responsible" for what comes next. In her view, Catalans cannot "manage the consequences of the past for 20 years" and must face the future "without populism, fear, or resignation."

Starting from the Pujolista idea that "a Catalan is whoever lives and works in Catalonia and feels like one," the foundation intends to take on "the great challenges" – such as immigration and housing – and influence politics, while rethinking the country, from the basis of "national recognition." Turning the page on the "fatigue" and the "loss of centrality" of Catalanism, the presentation event of Paral·lel 41 counted on the presence of the Convergent top brass and prominent figures from civil society.

Shower of personalities

Beyond Pujol, who from the front row –accompanied by his son Oriol– was a protagonist, a flood of convergent and Catalanist personalities attended this Thursday's event. The foundation, which will be academically directed by the Junts member Èric Bertran with the help of the former government advisor and political scientist Josep Vicenç Mestre, has sparked the interest of numerous former ministers such as Felip Puig, Jaume Giró, Santi Vila, Ramon Tremosa, Andreu Mas-Colell, Àngels Chacón, Quim Forn, Joana Ortega, Carles Campuzano (ERC) or Josep Maria Argimon. Also present was the vice-president of Junts and deputy Antoni Castellà; the first secretary of the bureau and deputy of Junts Glòria Freixa; the mayor of Figueres, the Junts member Jordi Masquef; the former secretary general of Junts and former president of the ANC Jordi Sànchez; several former deputies such as Roger Montañola, former officials such as David Madí and Marta Pascal; the president of the Fira, Pau Relat; the president of Foment and former member of CiU, Josep Sànchez Llibre; the president of Pimec, Antoni Cañete; the president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu; the president of Femcat, Tatxo Benet, and the former executive of Banc Sabadell Jaume Guardiola. Also present was the former chief commissioner of the Mossos Eduard Sallent and, as a representative of the PSC, deputy Jordi Riba attended.

The advisory board of the entity is composed of well-known personalities such as former minister Mas-Colell, the journalist and columnist for ARA Antoni Bassas, and the epidemiologist Antoni Trilla, among others. Regarding the board of trustees, the political scientist and advisor to the British government on immigration Sergi Pardos will be one of its members. Alsina had already promoted before the summer break the Catalans Segle 21 foundation to promote the integration into the Catalan identity of newcomers to the Principality.