President Puigdemont accuses Spain of "neglecting" its duties towards Catalonia
The Catalan president highlighted the role of Catalan businesses in the Spanish economy, while criticizing Madrid’s "monitoring" of his government’s actions abroad
Catalonia’s pro-independence process inevitably made an appearance at the Carles Ferrer Salat Awards ceremony, hosted by the Catalan employers’ federation Foment del Treball and attended by King Felipe. Also in attendance were the Spanish vice president, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, and the President of the Catalan Government, Carles Puigdemont, among other representatives of the institutions. During his speech in front of King Felipe, Puigdemont accused Spain of "neglecting" its duties with regard to Catalonia and of "ignoring the voice" of Catalans, a fact that ought to be a "precondition to fruitful" dialogue.
Puigdemont also highlighted the role of Catalan businesses in the Spanish economy, while criticizing Madrid’s "monitoring" of the Catalan government’s international activities and the "judicialization" of politics by Madrid. He stressed, however, that "Catalan society is neither pliant nor conformist" and wishes to continue progressing "in terms of social, civic and business leadership".
Meanwhile, the Spanish King avoided politics in his speech, instead speaking of the need to encourage businesses to move towards internationalization. The King, who switched between Catalan and Spanish during his speech, underlined the commitment to foreign markets as a key factor in helping Spain "successfully deal with the crisis". Referring to companies already operating abroad, the King asked them to remain "committed" to the diversification of markets and in encouraging those companies which have not yet taken the step to join them.
The message from the employers focused on an understanding between Catalonia and Spain. Joaquim Gay de Montellà, the President of the Catalan employers’ federation, Foment del Treball, declared that the two major challenges currently facing Spain are reducing its deficit and “reaching out to Catalonia through more dialogue".
More dialogue
Gay de Montellà noted that to strengthen economic recovery "the path to common ground between Catalonia and Spain" must be found through dialogue and agreement. Meanwhile, the president of the CEOE [The Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations], Joan Rosell, called for "courage" in overcoming the lack of political "understanding" between Catalonia and the Spanish state. Rosell called for a "cease-fire" in the conflict to discuss what each side needs in order to resolve the problem with "pragmatism."
