Pro-independence organisations ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Òmnium Cultural are working against the clock to make the demonstration in Brussels on 7th December a success. Yesterday, they presented the details they have confirmed so far, and announced they're expecting some 15,000 people to rally under the slogan "Europe, wake up! Help Catalonia".
Less prudent with their numbers are the Belgian press. Some newspapers, like DH and La Libre, are predicting some 50,000 Catalans will head to their country's capital. They say they will "show up" by car, train, plane and coach from "all Europe".
They explain that the organisers have so far counted 10,000 demonstrators, but are sure that "in reality they will be much more numerous". As evidence, they say that the 18,000 hotel rooms in the Brussels region are "already full" and that "numerous charter flights" have been organised.
They also quote a local police spokesperson who says the organisers submitted an official request on 9th November. "Meanwhile, two meetings have taken place to organise the management of this event. Another meeting is planned shortly given that we still don't know the full programme for the day", said Ilse Van de Keere, the spokesperson.
Bon dia catalans/es. pic.twitter.com/OrDBtEZC1e
— Omplim Brussel·les (@OmplimBrux) 23 de novembre de 2017
The Puigdemont factor
A large proportion of the Belgian media discussing the demonstration say that it's being organised "to support" president Carles Puigdemont, currently in exile in Brussels. DH had even, in a previous article, directly labelled it a “gigantic pro-Puigdemont demonstration”. They note that the demonstration will coincide with the start of the campaign for the 21st December Catalan election.
The president has been in Belgium since 30th October, three days after the Catalan Parliament declared independence. Since then, Puigdemont has become one of the people who appears most frequently in the country's press, which has also showcased the presence of ministers Lluís Puig, Clara Ponsatí, Meritxell Serret and Toni Comín.
Ponsatí, Comín and Serret in Brussels, 12th November. Photo: Carlota Camps
Those last three, in fact, went to the prequel to the large demonstration on 7th December, when, on 12th November, they joined some 1,500 people protesting in Brussels for the independence of Catalonia and the release of the prisoners.