Six leading Catalan pro-independence groups have announced a coordinated Diada demonstration. The move aims to restore unity and public momentum after years of declining turnout. Organizers stress the urgency of political cohesion.
Six of Catalonia's most prominent pro-independence organizations have announced a joint mobilization for this year's Diada, aiming to revive unity and street presence after several years of waning participation. The Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC), Òmnium Cultural, Associació de Municipis per la Independència (AMI), Consell de la República, Intersindical, and Ciemen revealed their coordinated plans on Tuesday, signaling a renewed effort to consolidate the civil independence movement.
Under the slogan Hi soc. Hi som. Pel present y el futur, independència (I'm here. We're here. For the present and the future, independence), the groups are calling for simultaneous demonstrations in Barcelona, Girona, and Amposta on September 11. In Barcelona, two marches will depart at 17:14 from Gran Via and Via Laietana, converging at Plaça de Catalunya for closing speeches. Girona and Amposta will host parallel events with similar formats, reflecting a decentralized approach to maximize participation across the region.
Josep Vila, president of the ANC, emphasized that regaining political strength depends on overcoming internal divisions. He argued that simply identifying as pro-independence is not enough—active mobilization is essential. Vila also criticized the current Catalan government led by Salvador Illa, accusing it of promoting policies that erode Catalonia's national identity and align too closely with PSOE interests. According to Vila, this alignment has hindered progress on issues such as Rodalies rail service, housing shortages, and the state of public health and education, as well as the protection of the Catalan language.
Òmnium Cultural's president, Xavier Antich, echoed the call to reclaim public space, citing ongoing violations of Catalonia's national, linguistic, and civil rights. He referenced recent controversies, including the implementation of the amnesty law, the Pegasus spyware case, and court rulings affecting the language model in schools. When questioned about the possible attendance of Aliança Catalana supporters, Vila clarified that the demonstration is open to all citizens, with no explicit invitations or exclusions for specific parties, but reaffirmed the organizers' commitment to human rights and democracy.
Other participating organizations linked the independence cause to improvements in public services and living conditions. The Consell de la República criticized the Generalitat's latest funding agreement as inadequate, while Intersindical and Ciemen stressed the need for a national project that combines sovereignty with a firm rejection of far-right ideologies and hate speech. This year, the return to yellow as the official T-shirt color is intended to evoke the symbolism of the mass mobilizations seen in the previous decade.
The renewed push for unity among Catalan pro-independence groups comes at a time of broader debate over regional funding and autonomy in Spain. Recent developments, such as the controversy surrounding Spain's regional funding model and its impact on different communities, have intensified calls for greater self-determination. For example, Castilla-La Mancha's leader has publicly criticized the current system for deepening inequalities, as reported in a recent analysis of regional funding disputes. Against this backdrop, the Diada mobilization is seen as a test of whether Catalonia's independence movement can regain its former momentum and influence in the face of political and social challenges.
Diada, Catalonia's National Day, has historically served as a focal point for pro-independence activism, drawing hundreds of thousands to the streets in previous years. However, participation has declined since the peak of the independence push in the late 2010s, reflecting both internal disagreements and shifting political dynamics. The outcome of this year's coordinated mobilization will be closely watched as an indicator of the movement's current strength and its ability to shape Catalonia's future political landscape.
