Catalan Representative to the EU gives insight into independence referendum

19 September 2017
Amadeu Altafaj

At a lecture on Catalonia and the upcoming referendum on independence, organized by N-VA International, Amadeu Altafaj, Permanent Representative of the Catalan Government to the European Union, explained why the upcoming referendum is democratically legitimate.

The introduction was given by MP Peter Luykx, who was in Barcelona on September the 11th with an N-VA delegation during the Diada, the Catalan national day. There he witnessed an overwhelming enthusiasm in the Catalan struggle for independence.

Even opponents are allies

Amadeu Altafaj first sketched a brief historical image of Catalonia, and then gave the attendees an insight into the referendum on independence to be held on 1 October. The growing Spanish repression of the referendum is worrying, but whether or not this will be enough to beat the courage and enthusiasm of the Catalan Government, local authorities and all the referendum campaigners is still very much the question. Even many opponents of Catalan independence are allies in the fight for more democracy: they at least want to be given the opportunity to vote in the referendum, regardless of the outcome.

Members of the Flemish Parliament, Karl Vanlouwe and Jan Van Esbroeck concluded with an expression of support for the upcoming Catalan referendum. N-VA International is sending an official delegation to Barcelona: several MPs and MEPs will be there as international observers.

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