This year, El Nacional has, for Sant Jordi, taken another step towards consolidating its position as the newspaper of reference for many Catalans and we took to the street ready to meet our readers at passeig de Gràcia, 76, in Barcelona. After almost eleven hours on the stand -between 10am and 9pm-, receiving a flood of visits during the whole day and seeing the constant support of our readers, we can only say thank you. It was a special Sant Jordi and we wanted to contribute with our focus to a day which we would like to be different next year. A day without prisoners, with the Catalan government recovered and with our institutions at the service of the people. Catalonia is fundamentally its people and on days like Sant Jordi it becomes more evident than on any other day of the year. Nothing defines us more than Sant Jordi: civility, culture and roses are the Catalan identity, how we see ourselves and how we would like to be seen every 23rd April.
We went out into the street and wanted, on such a special Sant Jordi, the prisoners and exiles to be the common thread for our reporting during the day. We connected by Skype with ministers Toni Comín, Clara Ponsati, Meritxell Serret and Lluís Puig, who mingled at a distance with the public listening to them. We were visited by Susana Barreda and Txell Bonet, the partners of Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart, who spent their name day in Soto del Real prison, who were interviewed by Iu Forn and Marta Lasalas. The partners of ministers Jordi Turull and Joaquim Forn, Blanca Bragulat and Laura Masvidal respectively; one of Turull's daughters, Laura, minister Puig's daughter, Alba, and minister Comín's sister, Betona, all also took part.
And, as well, numerous politicians who we interviewed during the day, starting with the Parliament's speaker, Roger Torrent. Then there was the chamber's deputy speaker, Josep Costa, Junts per Catalunya deputies Elsa Artadi, Eduard Pujol, Aurora Madaula, Laura Borràs and Francesc Dalmases; Pere Aragonès, Sergi Sabrià and Ruben Wagensberg from Esquerra Republicana; Antoni Castellà from Demòcrates; Carles Riera from CUP. Congress deputy for Esquerra, Gabriel Rufián; former CUP deputy Mireia Boya, Esquerra's leader in Barcelona city council, Alfred Bosch; PDeCAT's coordinator Marta Pascal. Also wanting to accompany us were former minister Carles Mundó, deputy Esther Capella, former Barcelona mayor Xavier Trias and Germà Bel, former JxSí deputy, among others.
We also interviewed ANC's president, Elisenda Paluzie, and Òmnium's vice-president, Marcel Mauri. Director of Catalan public broadcaster TV3, Vicent Sanchis; the actor Lluís Marco; TV3 presenter Jaïr Domínguez; the actors Toni Albà and Marc Martínez; film director Ventura Pons and our colleagues Bea Talegón, Agustí Colomines, Montserrat Nebrera, Xavier Antich, Enric Vila and Marc Pons. Giving their opinions under the supervision of Gemma Liñán were the lawyers Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, Jordi Pina and Sergi Atienza and professor Joan Queralt. And mosso d'Esquadra (Catalan police officer) David Torrents.
And we had a slightly more playful part with the journalist Víctor Amela, the journalist Pilar Eyre, the chef and presenter Marc Ribas, former president of La Penya (Club Joventut de Badalona basketball team) Jordi Villacampa and former Barça futsal coach Marc Carmona. I don't believe I've forgotten anyone but, if I have, I apologise.
And, at the end of the afternoon, I was able to talk with Jordi Turull and Joaquim Forn from the stand, two honest and peaceful people, two good friends, who were calling their spouses from Estremera prison whilst they happened to be at El Nacional's stand. They are calm, determined and grateful that people always remember them. And more so on such a special day as Sant Jordi.
It's been a day of many emotions but we're happy and grateful. Very grateful for the countless shows of affection. Thank you, let's continue.