Òmnium VP urges self-determination as response to guilty verdict in Catalan trial

In an interview with ACN, Marcel Mauri calls for "consensus" in pro-independence lobby to face "repressive" state action

The vicepresident of Òmnium, Marcel Mauri, during an interview with the Catalan News Agency in July 2017 (by Rafa Garrido)
The vicepresident of Òmnium, Marcel Mauri, during an interview with the Catalan News Agency in July 2017 (by Rafa Garrido) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

July 18, 2019 12:03 PM

Exercising the right to self-determination should be the collective response to a guilty verdict in the trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders prosecuted in Spain's Supreme Court for organizing the 2017 independence referendum.

That is according to Marcel Mauri, the vice president of the grassroots Òmnium association, whose president, Jordi Cuixart, is one of the leaders charged with rebellion, and who is still in custody awaiting a verdict by the high court judges.

Talking to the Catalan News Agency (ACN) this week, Mauri gave no details on how he thinks a self-determination vote should be organized, but he is clear that "the right to vote is won by voting."

"If necessary we'll vote as many times as we have to," he added.

Non-violent civil disobedience

Mauri is also sure about another thing: that any action taken by society following a possible guilty verdict has to be based on "non-violent struggle and civil disobedience" as the way to transform the "unjust situations and laws."