Twenty-three entities in Lleida have publicly rejected the City Council’s election of the winner of six Olympic medals in canoeing and national police, Saúl Craviotto, as a town crier for the city’s main festival, which is being celebrated this weekend.
The twenty-three entities, including the ANC Lleida, the Ateneu Cooperatiu la Baula or the Ateneu Popular de Ponentpoint out in a joint statement that the proclamation has a strong symbolic and representative load and recall statements by Craviotto against the referendum of October 1, 2017 and in support of article 155 of the Constitution.
They consider that Cravioto’s statements “clearly place him in a position far from a significant part of Catalan society, and also Lleida“.
Beyond his sporting career, which we respect, it is necessary to take into account his public positions in relation to one of the most significant political and social episodes in the recent history of Catalonia.
Extract from the statement
“Beyond his sporting career, which we respect, it is necessary to take into account his public positions in relation to one of the most significant political and social episodes in the recent history of Catalonia,” the entities point out in their statement.
They insist that It is not about questioning freedom of individual expressionbut to assess the institutional suitability of a figure who must exercise a symbolic voice in an act that aims to be inclusive and representative.
We believe that this election does not contribute to the necessary social cohesion, but rather could deepen existing divisions.
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In this sense, they specify that “in a context still marked by the political, social and emotional consequences of those events“We believe that this election does not contribute to the necessary social cohesion, but rather may deepen existing divisions.”
The entities consider that “the designation of a member of the Spanish police forces as a town crier, without a broad and transversal consensus, can be perceived as a political decision that does not take into account the sensitivity of important sectors of citizens, especially keeping in mind the role that these bodies played during the day of October 1“.
The appointment of a member of the Spanish police forces as a town crier, without a broad and transversal consensus, can be perceived as a political decision
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The signatory entities urge the Lleida City Council to reconsider this decision and open a more participatory reflection process that is sensitive to the plural reality of the city. betting on a figure that is perceived as truly representative of all citizens.
The statement is signed by the ANC Lleida, the Ateneu cooperatiu la Baula, the Ateneu Popular de Ponent, the Candidatura d’Unitat Popular, Cantaires de Ponent/Cor Paeria, the CDRs of Barris Nord, de Cappont, de Noguerola, de Ponent, the CGT Lleida, the Col·lectiu Cultural Cappont, the Colla Bastonera del pla de l’aigua, Endavant – OSAN Ponent, the Balàfia Popular School, the Ponent Feminist Group, Intersindical, Jovent Republicà Lleida, L’Espenta, Òmnium Lleida-Ponent, PAH Lleida, the Ponent Anti-repressive Platform, Poble Lliure and USTEC.
