Carles Puigdemont, Junts president and former president of Catalonia, and EH Bildu secretary general Arnaldo Otegi met in Waterloo, Belgium, on Wednesday, calling for Spain to recognise its plurinational character and for Catalonia and Euskal Herria, the Basque Country, to be recognised as nations.
The joint position places two pro-independence parties behind a shared constitutional and political demand. For Catalan residents, it concerns how Catalonia's national status and the social and national rights cited by the parties are addressed in Spanish politics.
Gorka Elejabarrieta, EH Bildu's secretary for political relations, also attended the meeting. Junts and EH Bildu described the discussion as cordial, constructive and respectful.
Warning over the Spanish right
According to the joint statement reported by Junts, the leaders discussed the political situation in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Spain, as well as the international context.
They expressed concern about the rise of “authoritarian and regressive right-wing movements” in Spain and its potential consequences for the national and social rights of Catalan and Basque people.
The parties said “firm steps” were needed towards what they called the democratisation of the Spanish state. They described recognition of Catalonia and Euskal Herria as nations as a fundamental step.
Parties pledge continued cooperation
The meeting formed part of a series of contacts EH Bildu is holding with pro-sovereignty and confederal left-wing forces. The parties said they would continue working together to seek political solutions to the conflicts affecting Catalonia and the Basque Country.
Reported by elconfidencial.com, elnacional.cat, ACN, El Confidencial.
