On Friday, the coordinator for the National Alliance on the Right to Decide (PNDD – Pacte Nacional pel Dret a Decidir), Joan Rigol, expressed his “commitment” to entities belonging to the National Alliance to work solely on making November 9th into a day of “great civil mobilization”. Rigol made these declarations after the fourth and most recent National Alliance on the Right to Decide meeting which took place in the Parliament of Catalonia and was chaired by the president of the Catalan government, Artur Mas. Also present at the meeting were the president of the Catalan Parliament, Núria de Gispert; vice-president of the Catalan government, Joana Ortega and Minister of the Presidency, Francesc Homs.
The intention by the Alliance appears reflected in the text agreed upon by the meeting’s participants: "We pledge to work in a unified way so that the 9-N, despite its limitations, represents a great mobilization of our people, and therefore reinforces the sense of participation among the citizens in this process trough the votes cast on November 9th along with other forms of mobilization ".
According to Rigol, the meeting served to "examine the accomplishments of recent days" and declared that "all participants have expressed their desire to work together in the procedure focused around the 9-N, which is the main challenge in the process to exercise the right to consultation".
The Alliance’s coordinator emphasized the "unity" reflected by the organizations and political parties taking part in the meeting, but asserted that "one ought not to confuse unity with uniformity because it is precisely this political pluralism in Catalonia that enriches our society". "This pluralism indicates several sensitivities which must be directed towards a common objective and specifically towards the 9-N" he explained.
Furthermore, these different ideological versions “should be used to add to the cause and should not be used to neutralize it" asserted Rigol, who went on to emphasize the essential nature of "political coordination”, because without it, he continued, “we cannot move forward".
During his speech, Rigol explained the role that should be played by the president of the Catalan Government, summarizing his key responsibilities in three main areas: the right to decide as the core of united action; the significance behind November ninth’s civil consultation in terms of the “Right to self-determination”, and the future political coordination of Catalonia.
During his speech, Rigol explained the role that should be played by the president of the Catalan Government, summarizing his key responsibilities in three main areas: the right to decide as the core of united action; the significance behind November ninth’s civil consultation in terms of the “Right to self-determination”, and the future political coordination of Catalonia.
The National Alliance for the Right to Decide aims to exercise the right to decide and hold a referendum on the political future of Catalonia through the 3,522 entities and organizations which make up Catalonia’s civil society.