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The "Diada", meeting Catalan separatists

Like every September 11, Catalonia is now celebrating its "Diada", a sort of " national " holiday of the region, which for some years has become the show of force of the separatists. Two years after the Catalan referendum banned by Madrid, in which state of mind are the separatists?

The mood is not good for the Catalan separatists who are preparing to march once again this afternoon in the streets of Barcelona for the Diada nacional de Catalunya . And for good reason: two years after the referendum, repressed by the police and the declaration of independence of former President Carles Puigdemont, nothing has really changed. Back to square one and many are disappointed. Admittedly, the two independentist parties of left and right are indeed together in power in the region but they are the target of criticism of those who believed in a real independence and who today note a clear difference between the public speech and acts. Not to mention the growing differences within this coalition government.

Independents still mobilized

Today's demonstration is organized, not by political parties, but by civil associations who want to use the force of the street again to put pressure on their regional government with a simple slogan. basic: " Objective: independence ". A way for them to remind some of their leaders of the promised independence in 2017, which seems to be getting further and further away.

Another explanation: the verdict of the trial against the 11 former Catalan leaders for organizing the referendum is expected in the coming weeks and the separatists want today a kind of dress rehearsal before probable mass mobilizations as soon as the announcement of the convictions. The secessionists wish to show their detractors that, despite these internal political tensions, they still know how to unite for a common goal.

Prisoners demand more mobilization

A few days ago, in fact, the Catalan prisoners waiting for a verdict and those who fled abroad published a joint open letter in which they call for mobilization and unity. Erected as true martyrs of the cause, they are probably the only ones who manage today to gather the independence camp. And their call seems to have worked: despite the disappointments, half a million have already pre-registered for this afternoon's rally.