Grassroots nationalist supporters of Catalan independence in Barcelona remained adamant on Saturday morning that their recently proclaimed republic is here to stay, but were equally emphatic — in words later echoed by sacked regional premier Carles Puigdemont — that it would only be defended through peaceful means.
“Welcome to the first edition of la Festa Catalana under the auspices of the new Catalan republic,” Joan Gomez, the speaker for an official open-air exhibition of traditional Catalan folk music and dance in Barcelona’s old quarter, announced to a watching group of tourists on Saturday morning, who responded with scattered applause.
“We put on this demonstration every Saturday but today, coming after yesterday’s declaration of independence, is a very special edition,” Mr Gomez told The Independent as behind him a small group of middle-aged Catalans circled and raised their arms in a sardana, a dance often described as depicting Catalan unity and pride.
“We don’t know how this will all end up, we’re in a conflict of legality with two regional governments, and likely two sets of elections coming up, too. But like in any new country, what we are hoping for now is that we will gain recognition and also that nothing untoward happens in the meantime.”
Mr Gomez was adamant that there would be “absolutely peaceful resistance” to any measures imposed by Madrid. “Violence is not the way we want to defend our ideals. All the official Catalan pro-independence associations and parties have insisted on a pacific response - and, when we can, for a festive response, too, like we had last night when declaration was declared.”
Meanwhile in the nearby Plaza San Jaume square itself, where a massive nationalist rally celebrated independence in front of the regional government’s building on Friday evening, as clocks struck 12 midday on Saturday there was no sign of any separatists whatsoever, just crowds of tourists and TV camera crews.
In fact, the only Catalan flag visible at ground level belonged to a small group of protesters demanding a formal amnesty for Republicans jailed during the era of Spain's former dictator, General Franco, whilst above Catalonia's main regional government building both the Catalan and Spanish flags continued to fly.
In a speech broadcast on TV at Saturday lunchtime, Carles Puigdemont, despite having been sacked by Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy as regional premier, showed no sign that he considered himself dismissed and insisted on peaceful opposition to direct rule from Madrid.
Flanked by EU and Catalan flags, Mr Puigdemont — widely believed to be speaking from his home city of Girona, a nationalist stronghold — said he would continue “working to build a free country” and “to carry out democratic mandates”.
“Let’s continue to persevere without violence, without insults and with respect for all the [ideological] symbols, “ he added. He also appealed for respect for any demonstrations, regardless of whether they were in favour or against Catalan independence.
Mr Puigdemont's hard-left allies in the CUP party seem determined to forge ahead despite the direct rule from Madrid, tweeting yesterday “We will continue building the Republic! We will not submit to Rajoy’s authoritarianism or to the 155.”
On Saturday it became clear the Spanish government has grassroots support, too, for its drive to retain unity in Catalonia, as demonstrators gathered in Madrid at midday to protest against Catalan secession.
A second major demonstration in favour of Catalonia remaining in Spain is due to take place in Barcelona on Sunday. The last such protest, a week after the banned referendum on independence, saw hundreds of thousands of pro-unity protestors gather in the Catalan capital.
