The mayor of Lleida, Fèlix Larrosa, defined Catalonia as "a plural and diverse country shared by people with different origins, backgrounds, sensitivities, and ways of thinking, but also a country built around democracy, the freedoms of its institutions, and an unequivocal will for progress". Larrosa recalled the Diada of 1976, 50 years ago, when thousands of people demanded freedom, democracy, and the recognition of Catalonia after the dictatorship, emphasizing that "rights and freedoms are achieved, but they must also be cared for, exercised, and defended every day".
Larrosa stressed the shared responsibility of building "a cohesive, solidary Catalonia with opportunities for everyone. A Catalonia that guarantees rights, but also demands responsibilities, protects its public services, makes diversity a strength, and coexistence a collective heritage". He added that "this Catalonia is also built from Lleida".
The mayor also advocated for continuing to defend peace, "which is cultivated daily with education, respect, and dialogue", and the commitment to memory, "which is cultivated through concrete and visible actions". He underlined that "defending democracy means respect and vigilance", including respecting those who think differently and not turning anyone into an enemy because of their origin, language, beliefs, or way of thinking, and having "strong institutions, a committed civil society, and a citizenry that never renounces democratic values".
Finally, he expressed that Lleida should be "a city that moves forward with respect, that makes identity, diversity, rights, and responsibilities compatible [...] a city proud of what it is, open to the world, culturally vibrant, socially cohesive, and firmly committed to democracy and freedom".
The Minister of Social Rights and Inclusion, Raúl Moreno, highlighted Lleida as a "land of work, effort, and solidarity" and remembered Josep Vallverdú and Ricard Viñes. He defended a plural Catalonia with a strong welfare state, "that welcomes, protects, and advances in cohesion, solidarity, and rights". The president of the Provincial Council, Joan Talarn, mentioned Josep Vallverdú and defended sovereignty, self-determination, democracy, and trust as a country.
The Government delegate in Lleida, Núria Gil, emphasized the need to work for pluralism, integration, and diversity to strengthen social cohesion, stating that "Catalonia will be stronger the stronger each of its territories is, and closer the more its progress is shared".
The event included musical performances by the Coral Maristes Montserrat and the Orquestra Julià Carbonell, as well as recitals of texts by Josep Vallverdú by actress Nú Miret. Authorities laid a floral tribute at the monolith commemorating the victims from Lleida of the War of Succession at the Seu Vella.
