Xavier Puigdemont, father of exiled Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, has passed away in Catalonia at the age of 91, his son has announced in a tweet from Belgium.
"A short time ago our father left us. My mother, my sisters and my brothers will always remember him as a man of immense kindness and fidelity to the basic values of Christianity. Rest in peace."
Fa poca estona ens ha deixat el pare. La meva mare, les meves germanes i els meus germans el recordarem sempre com un home de bondat immensa i fidelitat als valors del cristianisme de base. Descansi en pau. ACS.
— Carles Puigdemont (@KRLS) November 6, 2019
The elder Puigdemont worked in a family bakery in the town of Amer, in the north of Catalonia, until shortly before he died. He married Núria Casamajó with whom he had eight children. Carles, their second, was born in 1962.
Just last week, in an interview with the British newspaper The Times, Puigdemont said that he doubted he would see his parents again, as he is living in exile in Belgium and his parents were too elderly to travel. After the announcement, the president cancelled his scheduled participation via videolink in a JxCat election rally in Girona.
Within minutes of the news, a wide range of public figures had expressed their sympathy. President Quim Torra telephoned his predecessor to express his sympathy directly; he plans to attend the funeral in the next few days.
Estimat president @KRLS, la tristesa de la mort del pare es fa més profunda per la injustícia de l'exili i la distància forçada. T'acompanyem en el sentiment amb l'abraçada de tot un poble que us estima. Descansi en pau.
— Quim Torra i Pla (@QuimTorraiPla) 6 de novembre de 2019
Torra: "Dear president Carles Puigdemont, our sadness at the death of your father is made deeper by the injustice of your exile and the forced distance. Our sympathy with the embrace of a whole people which loves you. Rest in peace."
Una forta abraçada i tot l’escalf president, us acompanyo en el sentiment a tota la família.
— Roger Torrent 🎗 (@rogertorrent) 6 de novembre de 2019
Speaker of the Catalan Parliament Roger Torrent: "A strong embrace and all our support, president. Our sympathy to the whole family."
Una forta abraçada, President. El meu més sentit condol a tota la família. Molta força en aquests moments tan durs. https://t.co/R6PvJPuqHw
— Pere Aragonès 🎗 (@perearagones) November 6, 2019
Vice-president Pere Aragonès: "A strong embrace, president. My deepest condolences to the whole family. Great strength at such a difficult time."
Estimat Carles, President i amic,
— Jordi Sànchez (@jordialapreso) November 6, 2019
és molt difícil imaginar aquest moment. És el que dificilment podrem perdonar als qui ens han apartat dels nostres. Algun dia tot aquest patiment s’acabarà. Que el seu bon record t’acompanyi a tu i tota la família. https://t.co/D5PRS9w9b7
Prisoner and former president of ANC Jordi Sànchez: "Dear Carles, president and friend, it's very difficult to imagine this moment. It's what we'll find hard to pardon those who have separated us from our friends and family for. Some day all this suffering will end. May his good memory be with you and your whole family."
El meu condol en aquests moments tan durs Carles! Una abraçada! Quanta injustícia que un fill no pugui acomiadar al seu pare! https://t.co/z3OZBLLpro
— Oriol Junqueras 🎗️ (@junqueras) November 6, 2019
Prisoner and former vice-president Oriol Junqueras: "My sympathy at such a hard time, Carles! An embrace! Such injustice that a son cannot say goodbye to his father!"
Una abraçada immensa, president💛 És una injustícia enorme patir aquests moments lluny de la família. Tot el meu escaf.
— Carme Forcadell (@ForcadellCarme) 6 de novembre de 2019
Prisoner and former speaker of the Catalan Parliament Carme Forcadell: "An immense embrace, president. It's an enormous injustice to suffer through these moments far from your family. All my support."
ACS, una forta abraçada @KRLS i tota la família Puigdemont. https://t.co/ke1iLgiQil
— Clara Ponsatí (@ClaraPonsati) 6 de novembre de 2019
Exile and former education minister Clara Ponsatí: "RIP, a strong embrace, Carles and the whole Puigdemont family."
Mein aufrichtiges Beileid und tiefes Mitgefühl für diesen schweren Verlust @KRLS dass Ihnen und Ihrem Vater durch die politische Verfolgung seid Jahren sogar ein Wiedersehen und Abschied verwehrt wurde ist besonders tragisch. https://t.co/1MNliH2nO7
— Żaklin Nastic, MdB (@ZaklinNastic) November 6, 2019
Member of the German Bundestag Żaklin Nastic (Die Linke): "My heartfelt condolences and deep sympathy for the difficult loss, Carles. That you and your father, through years of political persecution, should have been denied even [the chance to say] goodbye is especially tragic."
My condolences my friend on the passing of your father, una forta abraçada https://t.co/DudhFk23RL
— Aamer Anwar🎗✊🏽 (@AamerAnwar) November 6, 2019