Torra in Washington pledges to work until Republic is “internationally recognized”

“We have political prisoners and victims of repression again,” says president during Catalonia America Council inauguration

The Catalan president, Quim Torra, along with the Culture minister, Laura Borràs, and some Catalans taking part in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington (by Rafa Garrido)
The Catalan president, Quim Torra, along with the Culture minister, Laura Borràs, and some Catalans taking part in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington (by Rafa Garrido) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

June 27, 2018 10:48 AM

The Catalan president  will do his utmost to find support for the independence of his country. At least, that's what he said from Washington, during his first major official trip since taking office. Quim Torra said that his cabinet “won’t stop working” until the Catalan Republic is “internationally recognized.” He intends to also gain sympathy across the globe for “freedom and democracy” in Catalonia.

Torra is in the US this week, and he made these remarks in his first public event, the inauguration of the Catalonia America Council. This is a private organization fostering the “bilateral relationship” between Catalonia and the US led by the former Catalan delegate in this country, Andrew Davis.

Only some hours after the Catalan government reopened six of its delegations abroad, Quim Torra said from the American capital that last October 1, citizens “exercised the right to self-determination.” “And now, we have to make effective this democratic mandate,” he added. For Torra, this mandate has to be “effective with all its implications.”

"Regression of rights"

During his speech, he also referred to Spain’s reaction after the October events. “We now have political prisoners, exiles, and victims of repression again,” he claimed.