Salvador Illa thanks the Extremaduran people for the "decisive contribution" in the construction of Catalonia

La Zarza/MèridaSalvador Illa has traveled to Extremadura to celebrate the Catalan National Day there, seeking to extol the fraternity between the two territories and vindicate the role of Extremadurans in the construction of Catalonia. The President of the Generalitat has lamented the years of the 'Procés'—in which "some spoke of others," but "some did not speak with others"—and has proclaimed the return of a "solidary" Catalonia favorable to reaching an understanding with Spain. However, the eternal tensions between the Principality and the rest of the State have surfaced again, and Illa has criticized in statements to the media the opposition of the vast majority of autonomous communities to the new financing, including that of the Junta of Extremadura governed by the PP and Vox.

Unlike the frequent visits to Madrid—where the president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and he avoid each other—in Extremadura there was an institutional reception and a photograph with the Popular Party's María Guardiola, although they skipped the joint press conference. The Junta's communication team preferred not to let journalists into the room where they met for about three-quarters of an hour to ensure that no statement that might spoil the visit could escape. The President of the Generalitat, as he himself recalled, has come to Extremadura to strengthen "bonds" and not to break them.

Nevertheless, before greeting Guardiola, the Extremaduran press had already asked Illa if the meeting would serve to discuss the new financing model. "What we are proposing harms no one; it benefits everyone," the Catalan president replied. "[Those who criticize it] would do well to look at the accounts and the concrete numbers to see that it benefits us all," he added immediately after. It was not the main topic, but sources consulted by ARA confirm that financing was discussed. In a statement, the Government limited itself to explaining that a "climate of cordiality and institutional collaboration" reigned at the meeting. "The president has highlighted the bonds of Catalonia with Extremadura, and his interest in these bonds being kept alive," they insist from the Palau de la Generalitat.

Tribute to the Extremaduran emigrant

The visit began in the town of La Zarza (Badajoz), where Illa met with the mayor, the socialist Francisco José Farrona, and visited the sculpture ofThe Emigrant, which is a tribute to the Extremadurans who had to leave, especially to Catalonia. It was from this town that the PSC leader claimed the "bonds" between Catalans and Extremadurans, and assured that the immigrants from Extremadura have made a "decisive contribution" to the construction of the country. "This is what we have come to recognize and thank," Illa indicated.

In turn, the mayor of La Zarza celebrated the visit of the "president of an autonomous community" to the town and asserted that "the Catalonia we know is, in large part, the fault of the Extremadurans." In the same vein as the president, Farrona celebrated that the "times of dialogue" between Spain and Catalonia have returned, and that the stage in which "they did not speak to each other, but rather about each other" has been overcome. "Long live Spain, long live Catalonia, long live Extremadura and Long live La Zarza, and may all these cheers endure," concluded the Extremaduran mayor.

The trip will also serve for the Generalitat to pay tribute to Manolo Vital, who was the founder and president of the first neighborhood association of Nou Barris and protagonist of the film El 47. A screening of the film is scheduled at the Auditorium of Mérida and, upon finishing, an institutional event will take place which his granddaughter, Joana Vital, will attend.

This Thursday, before bringing the trip to a close, Illa will still meet with the mayor of Mérida, the socialist Antonio Rodríguez, and will sign the city's guestbook. Afterwards, the city council of the Extremaduran capital and that of Tarragona will sign a collaboration protocol to jointly promote the Roman Theatre of Mérida –which the president will visit– and that of Tarraco in the city of Tarragona.