The ANC exhibits unity with an event with all the presidents: "We do not look at the past, we look at the future"

BarcelonaThe failed outcome of the Process has driven the pro-independence parties to division, with an open confrontation. The entities have not escaped this escalation of mutual recriminations either. The Assembly, moreover, has suffered internal fractures. In recent years, two sectors with different strategies have disputed control of the organization: those in favor of engaging in electoral battle and those who believed it should remain neutral. The former have created Stand Up for Independence and the latter lead the organization. Both sides have come together this Tuesday to call for unity and to attend the Diada, with a family photo that included all the people who have presided over the organization from its foundation to the present day.

None of the former presidents missed the call, leaving behind the differences of the past in an initiative promoted by the current president of the Assembly, Josep Vila, who did not hide his satisfaction in demonstrating that diversity in approaches does not prevent unity of action. Everyone is here, the motto of this year's demonstration, in the common cause of independence. This was highlighted by Vila during his speech. "Let's not look at the past, let's look to the future," said the current president of the Assembly, who had the rest of the organization's former leaders behind him. "The Assembly embraces diversity with normalcy and we are not afraid to address the independence movement with diverse accents," he added.

Both Vila and the rest of the leaders who have presided over the organization have supported the current leadership's double call on the eve of the Diada: on one hand, to attend the demonstrations, but on the other, to get involved in the independence movement the following day. "This doesn't end on the 11th, it is necessary to rebel and fight for independence," added Vila.

The Diada of the estelada

In the face of the attacks suffered for carrying an 'estelada' (Catalan independence flag) by a Barça fan, first, and an Europa fan, later, the head of the organization has encouraged all citizens to go out with the 'estelada' at the called mobilizations. "It must be displayed as a symbol of freedom that has no violent intent in the face of the anti-Catalan waves we are suffering," Vila snapped.

Elisenda Paluzie, the president who held the position for the most years (2018-2022), said that "if an opportunity is generated to achieve independence, there must be grass and country." The first and lesser-known president of the Assembly, Dolors Marín (2011-2012), has asserted that the ANC is "the only tool to make independence possible."

Carme Forcadell (2012-2015) added the need to take to the streets this Diada to defend the language: "We are in a situation of linguistic emergency". Lluís Llach, Vila's immediate predecessor, has revealed that he will be by the current president's side during the mobilization. Dolors Feliu (2022-2024), on the other hand, has said that she will be with the militants of Dempeus per la Independència, the party created by some former secretaries of the ANC when the entity's members voted against creating a civic list and both she and the rest of the board members who defended it stopped leading the organization. This Tuesday, however, on the eve of the Diada, the president and all the former presidents joined forces to revive the independence movement from the grassroots.