After three years leading the Nou Congrés de Cultura Catalana, the journalist and poet from Granollers, Esteve Plantada, has concluded his tenure, calling for the revitalization of the Països Catalans concept. This initiative, launched in 2024, followed in the footsteps of the historic Congrés de Cultura Catalana, which half a century ago laid the foundations for Catalan society in a democratic era.
“"We must strengthen the language as the backbone of society. And we must reactivate the idea of the Països Catalans, which has been disintegrating in recent years."
The primary goal of the Nou Congrés was to reflect on the identity and aspirations of Catalan society, especially after events like the Procés and the subsequent repression. The first event took place in Perpignan in April 2024, and the last was held last week at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. In total, 77 activities were organized across 42 municipalities, involving over 10,000 participants and 500 speakers.
During this period, crucial topics such as migration, the impact of tourism, and the state of the Catalan language were addressed. Plantada also emphasized the importance of fostering new leaderships to overcome the current 'low self-esteem' within society. According to him, a group of young people with fresh ideas for the future has been successfully brought together, helping to 'shake up the board' and overcome the defeatism of recent years.
