The participation of several members of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) in the major independence movement demonstration for the Diada, Catalonia's National Day, has aroused great interest after the president of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, announced that he would not participate. However, this Tuesday, Carme Forcadell has confirmed that she will be taking part in the march on Sunday. Although some ERC members have distanced themselves from the rally stating that it is based on an exclusionary message - for example, party president Oriol Junqueras and Barcelona mayoral candidate Ernest Maragall - Forcadell has affirmed that she will take part as a "former president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and as a member of ERC". However, she acknowledged to radio station RAC1: "I can understand that some people feel excluded from this demonstration, but I don't".
Forcadell has stated that she does not go along fully with the ANC's manifesto for the Diada, but downplays the fact, noting that she does not fully share the manifestos of some political parties she supports, either. "It is a manifesto that goes against the political parties and the government", she assures, echoing the criticism made by Catalan president Pere Aragonès, but adding: "I also understand that it is the function of the Assembly: to mobilize the people and put pressure on the political parties and the government". Forcadell remarked that she considers that this must remain the function of the ANC.
Regarding the discrepancies between the pro-independence organizations and Catalan political parties, she recalled that they are common and gave the example of the discrepancies that occurred within the unitary Junts pel Sí (Together for Yes) pro-independence coalition, which held a majority in the Catalan Parliament from 2015 to 2017. Forcadell also showed herself sympathetic to the recent statements of ERC leader Oriol Junqueras, who has labelled this year's Diada demonstration as exclusionary. "It goes against many pro-independence supporters and the majority independentism of the country," said Junqueras. Forcadell insisted that she understands this feeling, but does not share it.
The memory of September 6th and 7th, 2017
In the interview with RAC1, Carme Forcadell recalled the parliamentary sessions of September 6th and 7th, 2017, which saw the passing under urgent processing, and with great controversy, of the laws to govern the conduct of the referendum and the hypothetical disconnection between Catalonia and Spain after a 'yes' victory: legislation that was fundamental for the holding of the referendum on October 1st passed in Catalan parliamentary sessions that took place exactly five years ago. Forcadell, speaker of parliament in 2017, was firm in stating that she would do it again, but clarified that it would probably be different, better: "Things can always be improved."
The bad memory of the chaos of that day in Parliament is mixed with the loneliness that she acknowledges that she felt. A feeling she justifies, remarking that when you are in charge and have to make decisions, you end up feeling alone. "One of the most difficult days of my life", she admitted. Despite the difficulties, she defended her role on those key days and stands up for the defence that was made of the rights of MPs.