It has shifted somewhat, with time. Catalonia and Spain are moving away from each other, the fronts are hardened. the Carles Puigdemont lives in Brussels, in exile, – where it is monitored, as this week it became known.

Video: panel discussion Carles Puigdemont discussed with Res Strehle and Sandro Benini. Video: TA

“Carles Puigdemont, and the Catalan crisis” – the title of the event was yesterday evening in the Zurich merchants, organized by the “Tages-Anzeiger”. “Carlos Puigdemont in the Catalan crisis” is the title that can stand on the short presentation of the former Prime Minister of Catalonia.

He stopped at the beginning a small introduction – strictly from a Catalan point of view, of course: He recapped the history of the Catalan independence effort, told the story of a small people, the civilized, “peaceful and democratic” for its interests at the onset. And of the Spanish state, met this “legitimate request” with rejection, and – at its peak – with violence.

Video: audience questions

Carlos Puigdemont is a very interesting and polarizing Person, Sandro Benini the Catalan host. The TA-foreign editor moderated Strehle the evening together with the former TA-editor-in-chief Res. As the subject is charged, how strong Puigdemont polarized, was already evident in the run-up to the event. So Puigdemont decided to increase his Security system. The mood was, said Res Strehle in the run-up to, aggressively: Puigdemont applicable to some as a traitor.

Carles Puigdemont (center) discussed the issue with Res Strehle (l) and Sandro Benini (R), the Catalonia. Photo: Fabienne Andreoli

In the course of criticism of the event was loud. Spanish business people complained that a private company get involved in domestic Spanish matters. From the environment of the Spanish Consulate, there were also angry responses. The evening itself, however, went quiet and mannered on stage. The audience was friendly Puigdemont a majority.

The more critical, the better

With all the tension in the run-up: The audience experienced a very relaxing Carles Puigdemont. One that made the audience Laugh, the received for his statements between applause. A that never came out of the rest, always calm and in detail answered. Benini and Strehle confronted Puigdemont, especially with critical questions – something he appeared to enjoy. The more critical the question, so it seemed, the more comfortable it felt Puigdemont. Be a Central point again and again: The only way to solve the Catalonia conflict, was the dialogue. It’s not he was concerned to enforce the independence, that is, to give the Catalan people a voice. “The majority of the population does not agree with the Status quo. This majority does not include people who are for independence.”

Previously, Carles Puigdemont was a guest in the Zurich town hall. He met in the afternoon, with some Council members. The Meetings have served the exchange and to raise awareness for the Catalonia conflict, said the Green Elena Marti, who had organised the visit.

(Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 27.02.2019, 23:49 PM