The event, held at the Auditori de la Casa del Mar, was designed to foster a deep internal debate within the independence movement, integrating diverse perspectives to address the new political landscape, marked by the loss of institutional hegemony in the last electoral cycle.
The symposium began with an intervention by Josep Vila, coordinator of Political Advocacy at the ANC, who dedicated a moment of remembrance to the activist and member of the entity, Blanca Serra, who passed away the previous night.
The symposium's structure was divided into two parts. Initially, journalist and director of VilaWeb, Vicent Partal, presented an analysis of the 2023-2024 electoral cycle, identifying the factors that contributed to the decline of the independence vote.
“"Collective disappointment, the inability of parties to remain united, and Spanish repression."
Subsequently, a round table with the participation of Ferran Mascarell, Carme Garcia Suàrez, Mercè Amich Vidal, and Xavier Díez addressed the foundations for building a new independence hegemony.
Political scientist Mercè Amich emphasized the importance of avoiding unproductive debates and defended the need to
“"avoid the false dilemma between an 'exclusive nationalism' and an 'independence of majorities' that becomes innocuous."
In this vein, she proposed the creation of solid structures for the defense of national interest, independent of electoral cycles. Historian Xavier Díez advocated for broadening the movement's base, avoiding exclusions, and suggested a
“"non-aggression pact"
among independence forces, including Aliança Catalana, to protect Catalan institutions from what he called the “Spanish national front”.
For her part, Carme Garcia Suàrez focused on rebuilding trust with citizens, stating that
“"abstention is not disinterest: it is a demand for honesty and commitment."
She argued that the movement must better connect with people's daily lives and championed the role of the ANC as an “umbrella and connector of majorities”. Finally, Ferran Mascarell reflected on the concept of hegemony, pointing out the existence of two parallel processes: that of the Spanish State and that of the Catalan people.
“"The Catalan people are a deteriorated political construct because some essential cornerstones, like political parties, are failing us."
He warned that, while for ten years Catalan independentism set the debate, now it is the Spanish State doing so.
The symposium aimed to go beyond mere reflection, establishing the foundations for a continuous process of strategic debate. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions and can submit contributions until April 18 to enrich the day's conclusions. With this initiative, the ANC reaffirms its commitment to act as a meeting point and strategic driver for the independence movement, with the goal of regaining political initiative and building a new hegemony for the next electoral cycle.
