The ANC calls for demonstrations in Barcelona, Girona and Amposta for the Diada
Josep Vila avoids making public the veto to Aliança, but reaffirms his commitment to human rights
BarcelonaThe pro-independence entities presented this Tuesday the demonstration for the Diada of 2026, which will once again be decentralized like in recent years with demonstrations in Barcelona, Girona and Amposta. In the Catalan capital, a column formed by the bulk of the population will leave from Casanova street with Gran Via and another youth group from Plaça de la Catedral to join Plaça de Catalunya, where the political event will take place.
The Diada arrives with a rebound in support for independence according to the latest CEO, but without unity or a new roadmap from the pro-independence forces and with the hangover from the victory of the Spanish national team in the World Cup, which brought thousands of people to the streets. Political disunity contrasts with the unity of civil society, which has taken pride in the joint call. “Divided we will never win,” stressed Josep Vila, president of the ANC.
The head of the entity has denounced the grievances that Catalonia suffers on a daily basis. “Dependence leads us to decadence,” stated Vila, who criticized that “Salvador Illa's government is incapable of solving problems and only obeys Madrid's interests.” In this scenario, Vila highlighted that “individual commitment is essential to build the Catalan Republic.” In fact, the slogan of the march is “I am here, we are here,” which evokes the need for citizens to get involved to fight for independence. The president of the Assembly recalled that “support for independence is growing again,” but warned that “we must join forces and mobilize to take to the streets again.”
For their part, Xavier Antich, head of Òmnium, said that it is necessary to “create cracks to break with false normality with a citizenry that defends rights and freedoms in the face of repression and the reactionary wave due to the rise of the extreme right.” Thus, the president of Òmnium has reaffirmed the entity's commitment to an inclusive Catalanism that moves away from hate speech. “We defend a country project that does not divide and brings together people from all over the world,” he stated in a clear rebuke to Aliança Catalana, which continues to grow according to all surveys.
Against the extreme right
He has not been the only spokesperson to criticize the growth of Sílvia Orriols' party. La Intersindical has also denounced the rise of the far-right and the president of CIEMEN, David Minoves, has called to "stop the foreign and autochthonous far-right and combat hate speech with national fraternity as a banner".
Despite the anti-fascist commitment of the organizing entities, the president of the Assemblea, Josep Vila, has avoided publicly vetoing the Aliança demonstration, which last year debuted with its own bloc that marched parallel to the official march. "We represent the social front, not the political front. As organizing entities, we do not address parties, but directly to the people, and we have never made a list of invited or vetoed parties," he pointed out. However, he made clear the framework they defend: "The limits of the entities are clear and they are absolutely committed to all human rights".
