>The President of Catalonia has thanked the Scottish people for their “solidarity and support” after discussing his region’s struggle for independence with Nicola Sturgeon.
Attending the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Pere Aragones said the backing had helped Catalans during “the most difficult days” of Spanish oppression and violence.
Mr Aragones, who had a half-hour meeting with the First Minister on Sunday, also said his administration wanted to collaborate with the Scottish Government and learn from its “very good practices” on social, welfare and climate-change policy.
He said Catalonia’s huge car industry faced a challenging “just transition” away from fossil fuels while avoiding job losses in the coming decade, akin to Scotland’s oil and gas industry.
Mr Aragones, 38, of the Republican Left of Catalonia, became president in May after pro-independence parties won 52 per cent of the vote in Catalan elections in February.
He has now embarked on constitutional talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in the hope of securing a legally agreed referendum on Catalan autonomy and an amnesty for politicians still facing prosecution over the abortive wildcat referendum of October 1, 2017.
Spanish police used violent raids to disrupt voting in the semi-autonomous region of 7.5 million people, leading to widespread condemnation of then Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy.
Mr Sanchez has so far ruled out a referendum on Catalan self-determination, leaving the moderate Mr Aragones facing criticism from his more gung-ho coalition partners.
However speaking to The Herald, he said patience was essential, and Mr Sanchez’s recent pardons for Catalan leaders jailed over the referendum, and the Spanish Government accepting that the political conflict over Catalonia had to be resolved, were positive early steps.
He said: “I want to thank the Scottish people for their solidarity and support towards Catalonia, especially in the most difficult days, when we had our people in prison, when there there was the referendum of October 1st, and the Spanish policemen were beating our people in the polling stations.
“I want to thank also the solidarity of the Scottish people when the Supreme Court of Spain decided the imprisonment of some of our leaders – the sentence that sums up 99 years of imprisonment. I only have words of gratitude towards the Scottish people.”
Mr Aragones said Sunday’s meeting with the First Minister was “very interesting… not only because there is a pro-independence government in Scotland and the precedent of the [agreed] referendum of 2014.
“It’s also interesting because of the social policies and the commitment against climate change that makes the Scottish Government a reference point for all the progressive governments of the stateless nations.
“When you have a meeting with a prominent politician like Nicola Sturgeon, obviously you have the opportunity to talk about the situation of your country, the situation in Catalonia and in Scotland.
“But yesterday we were focused on some special issues that Scotland has a strong leadership [on], all the climate change policy.
“The Scottish Government is very focused on this just transition, because they are aware of the effects of the struggle against climate change over some economic sectors, especially the oil production in Scotland.
“In parallel in Catalonia we have a very strong automotive industry that will change a lot, all the value chain will change in the next 10 years.
“So from this point of view we share common problems. We have major economies that have important sectors that will face challenges over the next five to 10 years, and they have to transform, absolutely.
“So national governments, the Scottish Government, the Catalan Government, must drive all these transformations.
“We were focusing on that, apart, obviously, from talking about the political situation of both countries.”
A former lawyer and economist, Mr Aragones was careful not to get drawn into the Scottish independence debate or Boris Johnson’s character, but hinted he might give Ms Sturgeon tips on dealing with a stubborn opponent.
He said: “The future of Scotland will be decided by the Scottish people and the future of Catalonia the same.
“As President of Catalonia, I want to express all respect for the decision of the Scottish people. Whatever the Scottish people decide, Catalonia will support Scotland.
“For us, dialogue and negotiation is the way to solve this conflict.
“The aspirations of Catalonia cannot be solved only by the Spanish government rejecting all the proposals, so we have to negotiate, and if our experience can be useful for any other nation, we are happy to share our thoughts and experience.”
And there was the rest of the room expecting them to talk about their favourite London or Madrid places to visit, or maybe even something completely out of context like climate change or something.
I too wanted to discuss my plans to restore the Papal States within their rightful borders – surely my invitation must’ve been lost? I heard the buffet was to die for, plus, I was already in talks with the Padanian delegation!
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>The President of Catalonia has thanked the Scottish people for their “solidarity and support” after discussing his region’s struggle for independence with Nicola Sturgeon.
Attending the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Pere Aragones said the backing had helped Catalans during “the most difficult days” of Spanish oppression and violence.
Mr Aragones, who had a half-hour meeting with the First Minister on Sunday, also said his administration wanted to collaborate with the Scottish Government and learn from its “very good practices” on social, welfare and climate-change policy.
He said Catalonia’s huge car industry faced a challenging “just transition” away from fossil fuels while avoiding job losses in the coming decade, akin to Scotland’s oil and gas industry.
Mr Aragones, 38, of the Republican Left of Catalonia, became president in May after pro-independence parties won 52 per cent of the vote in Catalan elections in February.
He has now embarked on constitutional talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in the hope of securing a legally agreed referendum on Catalan autonomy and an amnesty for politicians still facing prosecution over the abortive wildcat referendum of October 1, 2017.
Spanish police used violent raids to disrupt voting in the semi-autonomous region of 7.5 million people, leading to widespread condemnation of then Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy.
Mr Sanchez has so far ruled out a referendum on Catalan self-determination, leaving the moderate Mr Aragones facing criticism from his more gung-ho coalition partners.
However speaking to The Herald, he said patience was essential, and Mr Sanchez’s recent pardons for Catalan leaders jailed over the referendum, and the Spanish Government accepting that the political conflict over Catalonia had to be resolved, were positive early steps.
He said: “I want to thank the Scottish people for their solidarity and support towards Catalonia, especially in the most difficult days, when we had our people in prison, when there there was the referendum of October 1st, and the Spanish policemen were beating our people in the polling stations.
“I want to thank also the solidarity of the Scottish people when the Supreme Court of Spain decided the imprisonment of some of our leaders – the sentence that sums up 99 years of imprisonment. I only have words of gratitude towards the Scottish people.”
Mr Aragones said Sunday’s meeting with the First Minister was “very interesting… not only because there is a pro-independence government in Scotland and the precedent of the [agreed] referendum of 2014.
“It’s also interesting because of the social policies and the commitment against climate change that makes the Scottish Government a reference point for all the progressive governments of the stateless nations.
“When you have a meeting with a prominent politician like Nicola Sturgeon, obviously you have the opportunity to talk about the situation of your country, the situation in Catalonia and in Scotland.
“But yesterday we were focused on some special issues that Scotland has a strong leadership [on], all the climate change policy.
“The Scottish Government is very focused on this just transition, because they are aware of the effects of the struggle against climate change over some economic sectors, especially the oil production in Scotland.
“In parallel in Catalonia we have a very strong automotive industry that will change a lot, all the value chain will change in the next 10 years.
“So from this point of view we share common problems. We have major economies that have important sectors that will face challenges over the next five to 10 years, and they have to transform, absolutely.
“So national governments, the Scottish Government, the Catalan Government, must drive all these transformations.
“We were focusing on that, apart, obviously, from talking about the political situation of both countries.”
A former lawyer and economist, Mr Aragones was careful not to get drawn into the Scottish independence debate or Boris Johnson’s character, but hinted he might give Ms Sturgeon tips on dealing with a stubborn opponent.
He said: “The future of Scotland will be decided by the Scottish people and the future of Catalonia the same.
“As President of Catalonia, I want to express all respect for the decision of the Scottish people. Whatever the Scottish people decide, Catalonia will support Scotland.
“For us, dialogue and negotiation is the way to solve this conflict.
“The aspirations of Catalonia cannot be solved only by the Spanish government rejecting all the proposals, so we have to negotiate, and if our experience can be useful for any other nation, we are happy to share our thoughts and experience.”
And there was the rest of the room expecting them to talk about their favourite London or Madrid places to visit, or maybe even something completely out of context like climate change or something.
I too wanted to discuss my plans to restore the Papal States within their rightful borders – surely my invitation must’ve been lost? I heard the buffet was to die for, plus, I was already in talks with the Padanian delegation!
“We’ve got no chance.. you?”
“Same”