Former President Jordi Pujol received a tribute on Saturday organized by the youth wing of Junts in Planoles, Ripollès. The event, attended by approximately 400 people, served to celebrate Pujol's figure, political trajectory, and legacy.
Pujol, who recently turned 96, observed the proceedings from the front row and had his prepared speech read by the president of the JNC's national council, Carlota Monfort.
“"Catalonia's strength has never resided in uniformity, but in its "capacity to integrate, to add, to make very different people feel participants"."
In his address, the former president urged attendees to recognize that Catalonia's strength has never stemmed from uniformity, but rather from its "capacity to integrate, to add, to make very different people feel participants". Pujol advocated for integrating newcomers and fostering cohesion, warning against "confusing identity with exclusion".
“"Catalonia has overcome difficulties "much greater than the current ones", it has overcome wars, defeats, persecutions, and dictatorships, and despite everything, it endures and "will not disappear"."
Pujol also encouraged the audience, particularly the youth, to resist pessimism, noting that Catalonia has overcome challenges "much greater than the current ones", including wars, defeats, persecutions, and dictatorships, and asserted that it "will not disappear".
“"If there is one thing I would like to be remembered for, it is that I have served Catalonia with both successes and errors."
He asked the younger generations to possess a spirit of service to the country, as he claims to have done throughout his life, stating, "If there is one thing I would like to be remembered for, it is that I have served Catalonia with both successes and errors."
He was accompanied at the event by Junts leaders, including the President of the Parliament, Josep Rull, and the party's Secretary General, Jordi Turrull. Also present were Junts Vice President Mònica Sales, former minister Joaquim Forn, and politicians such as Marta Pascal and Carles Campuzano.
Oriol Pujol, the former president's son, was also in attendance. The municipality of Planoles was chosen as it is the traditional location for the summer school of the JNC.
During the event, various representatives reviewed Pujol's career, from his youth and imprisonment during Franco's regime to his role in founding Convergència and his governmental activities, including initiatives related to feminism and the environment.
The event concluded with remarks from the president of the JNC, Àlex Agustí, who apologized to the former president for not always being "up to par" and pledged the commitment of the new generations to continue the political legacy.
“"The purpose of my life has been to build Catalonia"
The youth organization presented Pujol with a plaque bearing the phrase "The purpose of my life has been to build Catalonia". The event concluded with a communal lunch, where Pujol addressed the attendees.
