Last Friday, DiEM25’s Coordinating Collective (CC) received an urgent request from our Barcelona local group (DSC): that DiEM25 take a view on the referendum the Catalan government is trying to hold next Sunday, October 1.
This is a burning issue that not only affects Catalonia, but Europe as a whole. Thus, we agree, DiEM25 must clearly voice its stance. So here it is:

The current events taking place in Catalonia are worrisome to DiEM25, for they touch on the very essence of some of our movement’s founding principles, particularly our defence of democracy and of people’s rights to decide their future.
We understand the complexities surrounding the referendum organised by the Catalan regional government for next October 1, and are sensitive to the different views on procedures, legal aspects and arguments on all sides.
As per our manifesto, DiEM25 stands for an Open Europe, with neither borders nor asphyxiating central control. We dream of a Europe where a democratic Catalonia is part of a democratic Europe without anyone really noticing or caring whether it belongs or not to Spain.
We condemn the way democracy and fundamental rights like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are being curtailed by Madrid’s authoritarian response.
We stand behind DiEM25 member and Barcelona City Mayor, Ada Colau, in her call for all parties to establish a mature and sensible dialogue that will result in an agreed referendum with the central government, which provides all legal guarantees for Catalans to decide on their future.
We recommend subscribing to the declaration Ada and other like-minded democrats co-signed at yesterday’s assembly in Zaragoza.

The above does not by any means constrict the need for a membership-wide debate (and vote) on such crucial matters. There are DiEM25 members across Catalonia, Spain, and our Union, indeed, who must contribute with ideas and concrete proposals on how to address this and other democratic processes. So we welcome the creation of a thematic group, as per the soon-to-be announced initiatives our members have requested and which we will vigorously encourage and support. The above recommendations are in fact a confirmation of the principles that brought us all together.
 

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