Former Catalan president denied from holding conference at Madrid university

Polytechnic University of Madrid vetoed event saying Artur Mas' presence would “damage” its image

Former Catalan president Artur Mas leaving the Spanish Supreme Court in February this year (by ACN)
Former Catalan president Artur Mas leaving the Spanish Supreme Court in February this year (by ACN) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

May 7, 2018 01:45 PM

The former president of Catalonia Artur Mas has been disallowed from holding a conference at the Polytechnic University of Madrid after being vetoed by the education facility itself.

The event, entitled ‘Catalonia: yesterday and tomorrow’ was due to be held next Wednesday. However, the polytechnic argued that his presence “could damage the image of the university and cause unnecessary controversy,” according to its organizers, the Ítaca-UPM association.

The conference will now take place at a much smaller venue behind closed doors in order to avoid acts of boycotting. For those interested, though, it will be possible to stream the conference online.

Mas will address “possible solutions to the expectations of the Catalan independence conflict in a space with a “very limited capacity.” Attendees will be able to ask about the prospects for the future that the situation entails, as well as the legal, political, and economic problems that might arise because of it.