The President of the Catalan Government, Pere Aragonès, reaffirmed the "commitment of the Government to the values of democracy and freedom" during the act of recognition of political prisoners held at the Palau this afternoon. And he made a call to "persevere and persevere until the repression ceases completely and until the popular will of the citizens of Catalonia is respected".

The head of the Executive has demanded that "the judicial offensive the Court of Auditors offensive against the independence movement", which affects, he said, hundreds of people in different causes, “should end once and for all". Aragonès insisted that "the resolution of the conflict between the Spanish State and Catalonia inevitably passes through democracy, through a referendum on the independence of Catalonia" and asked that "no one should make a mistake. We remain committed to making independence possible; to make the Catalan Republic a reality, because our commitment to the people, to the majority will of the citizens of Catalonia, is absolutely irrenounceable".

The event, which was held in the Gothic Gallery of the Palau, was attended by the nine political prisoners: Oriol Junqueras; Carme Forcadell; Jordi Turull; Joaquim Forn; Josep Rull; Raül Romeva; Dolors Bassa; Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart, to whom the president has made an "Unconditional recognition for their commitment to democracy and freedom, for their commitment to the citizenship of Catalonia can decide peacefully, democratically and freely which should be our future as a country ".

"You have given everything to make it possible for Catalonia to decide its future through a referendum on self-determination. And this, without a doubt, makes you a point of reference", Pere Aragonès emphasized. And he added: "you leave with the peace of mind that you do not have to ask forgiveness for anything" and "you deserve to be recognized that you did not commit any crime, and that you should recover all your political rights".

The President of the Catalan Government also remembered the exiles "who must be able to return to Catalonia without fear of being persecuted by the justice system", he declared. And he assured that the best recognition that can be given to both political prisoners and exiles is "to continue fighting for amnesty and self-determination".

Prior to the President's speech, the Vice President of the Government and Minister of Digital Policies and Territory, Jordi Puigneró, and the former President of the Parliament, Carme Forcadell, spoke on behalf of the nine political prisoners. The event was also attended by the President of the Parliament, Laura Borràs, and members of the Government, led by the President.