Daniel Sirera, the People’s Party (PP) leader on Barcelona City Council, on Sunday called on Catalan President Salvador Illa to order the immediate removal of the housing protest encampment in Plaça Catalunya. The camp has already altered the planned route of a Spain’s National Day march on Monday, meaning attendees will not gather in the square as in previous years.

In a statement, the PP’s municipal group said Sirera believed the encampment breached city rules and accused the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) of allowing it to continue for electoral reasons. The Generalitat, Catalonia’s self-government institutions, includes the Catalan Government, which holds executive and regulatory powers.

“In Barcelona, there cannot be first-class and second-class citizens,” Sirera said, referring to his view that municipal rules should apply to everyone.

Sirera said the camp’s continued presence could prevent people from using Plaça Catalunya for the National Day event on 12 October.

National Day march will avoid Plaça Catalunya

Unidos por Ceuta, the group organising a march under the slogan “Catalonia with Ceuta. One Spain”, has changed its route because of the encampment. The group says a stage cannot be installed in Plaça Catalunya and the square cannot be used for the planned gathering while the camp remains there.

For residents and visitors intending to attend on Monday, the announced arrangements are:

  • The march will start at 11:30 at Passeig de Gràcia and Provença Street, outside La Pedrera.
  • It will finish at the junction of Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via, rather than in Plaça Catalunya.
  • Organisers say they will distribute 5,000 Ceuta flags to attendees.

Sirera said Illa should ensure that public space in Plaça Catalunya can be used for the National Day event. The President of the Generalitat is Salvador Illa, who has held the post since 2024.

Primary sources: eb.gencat.cat, exteriors.gencat.cat. Reported by europapress.es, barcelonapress.com, Barna.News, en.ara.cat, Catalan News, montegre.com, elcatalan.es, Europa Press Barcelona.