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 into division, with an open confrontation. Neither have the entities escaped this escalation of mutual recriminations. 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 waging an electoral battle and those who believed it should remain neutral. The former have created Solidaritat per la Independència and the latter lead the organization. Both sides have united this Tuesday to call for unity and attendance at the Diada, with a family photo that included all the people who have presided over the entity since its foundation until today.

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 slogan of this year's demonstration, in the common cause of independence. This was highlighted by Vila during his speech. "Let us not look at the past, let us 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 normality 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 does not end on the 11th, we must rebel and fight for independence," added Vila.

The Diada of the estelada

In the face of the attacks suffered for carrying an 'estelada' 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 ambition in the face of the Catalanophobic waves we are suffering," Vila declared.

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

Carme Forcadell (2012-2015) has 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 that some former secretaries of the ANC created 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 have joined forces to revive the independence movement from the grassroots.