On the left, the Mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, with the Valencian President Carlos Mazón, both from the PP, at the civil process this Monday morning. Right: Compromí’s deputy Àgueda Micó, at the afternoon demonstration. Monica Torres
Thousands of Valencians took to the streets on October 9th to celebrate in various events the Day of the Valencian Community, which commemorates the entry of King Jaume I of Aragon into the city in 1238. The majority of the acts took place without relevant incidents occurred.
In the morning, the traditional citizens’ process took place with a large delegation of political and social representatives through the center of the capital. The march has regained the entrance to the cathedral to take part in the Te Deum, eight years after the last time, an event in which the municipal groups Compromís and PSPV did not take part. Valencia Mayor María José Catalá, of the PP, which governs with Vox as its preferred partner, was responsible for carrying the emblem through the heart of the city this year. It is the second time he has taken on this role in recent years. He already did it in 2019, then as a popular speaker in the Valencian municipal council. In 2022, the sponsor was the then deputy mayor Sergi Campillo (Compromís) and in 2021, city councilor Pilar Bernabé (PSPV). In 2020 the celebration had to be suspended due to the pandemic.
A person shows banners against the amnesty during the citizens’ parade on October 9th, during which the Te Deum will also be recovered from the cathedral. Biel Aliño (EFE)
The other novelty was the reintroduction of the Te Deum, a religious act of grace celebrated in the cathedral. The ensign entered the temple through the Puerta de los Hierros, accompanied by the entourage, with the exception of Compromís and PSPV. As is often the case, left-wing politicians were insulted at certain points by a few people among the thousands who crowded the race track. Some carried banners against the government of socialist Pedro Sánchez and against the amnesty for those accused of the Catalan trial.
The mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, spoke to the media before the start of the procession and reiterated that, as the first mayor, she tried to make the city “beautiful” and “prepared” for this day, trusting in everything we can say very loudly what our anthem says: songs of love and peace.”
In the afternoon, shortly after a large parade of Moors and Christians occupied part of the center, the demonstration in defense of Valencian and its linguistic unity with Catalan began. This year the march had the motto “Per un País Valencià antifeixista” (“For an anti-fascist Valencian country”). Toni Gisbert, Secretary of Cultural Action of the State of Valencia and spokesman for the October 9 Commission, warned of the “worrying” and serious situation presented by the new PP and Vox government in the Generalitat, which is “subordinate to the extreme right” is. “.
What influences the most is what happens next. So you don’t miss anything, subscribe.
Subscribe to
Several thousand people walked through the center behind banners of parties such as Compromís, Esquerra Unida or Esquerra Republicana del País Valencià as well as the trade unions CC OO or STEV or groups such as Escola Valenciana. Among the left-wing and nationalist representatives present, the presence of Oriol Junqueras, president of the Esquerra Republicana, stood out, who refused to make any statement to the media.
Oriol Junqueras, president of the Esquerra Republicana, at the afternoon demonstration in Valencia this Monday behind the banner of the Esquerra republicana del País Valencià. Monica Torres
Guarded by a large police operation, repeated since the serious incidents of 2017, in which a group of ultras violently attacked various demonstrators and several informants, the march took place without incident and in a festive and protest atmosphere. There were only isolated insults from a few small groups of Ultras stationed on the outskirts. Anti-fascist slogans were heard, in favor of the defense of the Valencian people and some in favor of the independence of the Catalan lands.
The convener Comissió 9 d’Octubre, a unified platform that brings together corporations, unions and parties, has called for “to represent in a unified manner the interests of the Valencian people in Valencia and Madrid, to defend fair financing and to respect Valencian civil law “defend.” the strengthening of self-government in an open way, without creating conflict or tension.”
A little later, also from the Plaza de San Agustín, another demonstration started, organized by the Coordinadora Obrera Sindical and also with the presence of other nationalist youth groups, which went through the streets of Xàtiva, Colón and Cerdán de Tallada and ended at the parterre.