A total of 23 entities aligned with Catalan nationalism have signed a manifesto criticizing the athlete, who holds the most Spanish Olympic medals, for his positions against the independence movement and his profession as a National Police officer.
“"His statements against the referendum of October 1, 2017, as well as his explicit support for the application of Article 155 of the Constitution, clearly place him in a position far removed from a significant part of Catalan society, and also from Lleida."
According to these organizations, the choice of the announcer does not contribute to social cohesion and could deepen existing divisions, especially in a context still marked by the political, social, and emotional consequences of the events of October 1.
The signatory entities urge the Lleida City Council to reconsider its decision and to open a more participatory reflection process to choose a figure perceived as truly representative of the entire citizenry.
Among the 23 signatories of the manifesto are associations such as the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC) and Òmnium de Lleida, political parties like the CUP and the youth wings of ERC in Lleida, as well as unions such as Ustec, Intersindical, and CGT Lleida, and various Committees for the Defense of the Republic (CDR).
