Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència
Encyclopedia
Catalan Solidarity for Independence (Catalan
: Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència, SI; suɫiðəɾiˈtat kətəˈɫanə pər ɫə indəpənˈdɛnsiə) is a political party
in Catalonia
, founded in the summer of 2010 as an outcome of the grassroots social movement
that initiated and organized the Catalonian independence referendums of 2009 and 2010
. It was organized as a common political platform for radical Catalan independentism
, dissatisfied with what they considered a pragmatist and conformist policy of other Catalan parties (including the independentist Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
) towards the issue of independence.
Currently, it is the second largest independentist political force in Catalonia after Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya. It has 4 representatives in the Catalan Parliament.
It was formed on 20 July 2010 by former Barcelona Football Club president Joan Laporta
, the jurist Alfons López Tena (former activist of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia
) and the Catalan MP Uriel Bertran (former ERC
member) as an umbrella group for various supporters of Catalan independence and the creation of a sovereign state
for Catalonia. It was named after Catalan Solidarity, a political coalition of all pro-Catalan parties which existed between 1906 and 1909.
Catalan Solidarity for Independence was formed as an electoral coalition of six political parties
(Democràcia Catalana, Solidaritat per la Independència, Partit Republicà Català, Els Verds-Alternativa Verda, Catalunya Nació Independència and Partit Socialista d'Alliberament Nacional) to stand for the 2010 parliamentary election in Catalonia
. Negotiations for to incorporate the group Realignment for Independence
failed due to a disagreement regarding the compilation of electoral list, and divergence in both tactical and strategic considerations.
Its slogans are: "Catalonia the next state of Europe" and "We make independence possible!".
Many public figures have supported the movement, for example Hèctor López Bofill, Toni Strubell
, Isabel-Clara Simó
, Carles Solà
, Josep Guia
and Joel Joan
.
In the 2010 Catalan elections
, it won 3,28% of the vote and 4 deputies in the Parliament of Catalonia
, among them the three co-founders. Three were elected in the constituency of Barcelona, and one in the constituency of Girona.
In 2011, the party's co-founder Joan Laporta
left the formation. The new party leader became Alfons López Tena.
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
: Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència, SI; suɫiðəɾiˈtat kətəˈɫanə pər ɫə indəpənˈdɛnsiə) is a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, founded in the summer of 2010 as an outcome of the grassroots social movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
that initiated and organized the Catalonian independence referendums of 2009 and 2010
Catalonian independence referendums, 2009–2011
The Catalan independence referendums are a series of non-binding and unofficial referendums, "popular votes" , held in municipalities around Catalonia, in which voters indicate whether they support Catalan independence from Spain...
. It was organized as a common political platform for radical Catalan independentism
Catalan independentism
Catalan independentism is a political movement, derived from Catalan nationalism, which supports the independence of Catalonia or the so-called Catalan countries from Spain and France...
, dissatisfied with what they considered a pragmatist and conformist policy of other Catalan parties (including the independentist Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
The Republican Left of Catalonia is a left wing Catalan independentist political party in Spain. It is also the main sponsor of the independence movement from France and Spain in the territories known among Catalan nationalists as Països Catalans...
) towards the issue of independence.
Currently, it is the second largest independentist political force in Catalonia after Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya. It has 4 representatives in the Catalan Parliament.
It was formed on 20 July 2010 by former Barcelona Football Club president Joan Laporta
Joan Laporta
Joan Laporta i Estruch is a Spanish politician and former president of Futbol Club Barcelona between 2003 and 2010.Laporta is a lawyer with his own firm, Laporta & Arbós, which has important firms as clients. Laporta was married to Constanza Echevarría and has three sons, Pol, Guillem and Jan...
, the jurist Alfons López Tena (former activist of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia
Democratic Convergence of Catalonia
The Democratic Convergence of Catalonia is a political party in Catalonia, Spain. Together with Democratic Union of Catalonia, it forms part of the Convergence and Union coalition. It is affiliated with the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party and with the Liberal International...
) and the Catalan MP Uriel Bertran (former ERC
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya
The Republican Left of Catalonia is a left wing Catalan independentist political party in Spain. It is also the main sponsor of the independence movement from France and Spain in the territories known among Catalan nationalists as Països Catalans...
member) as an umbrella group for various supporters of Catalan independence and the creation of a sovereign state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
for Catalonia. It was named after Catalan Solidarity, a political coalition of all pro-Catalan parties which existed between 1906 and 1909.
Catalan Solidarity for Independence was formed as an electoral coalition of six political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
(Democràcia Catalana, Solidaritat per la Independència, Partit Republicà Català, Els Verds-Alternativa Verda, Catalunya Nació Independència and Partit Socialista d'Alliberament Nacional) to stand for the 2010 parliamentary election in Catalonia
Catalonian parliamentary election, 2010
Elections to fill 135 seats of the Parliament of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain, were held on Sunday, 28 November 2010.-Electoral process:-Candidatures with current parliamentary representation:...
. Negotiations for to incorporate the group Realignment for Independence
Reagrupament
Reagrupament or Reagrupament Independentista is a political party in Catalonia, Spain, formally constituted on 3 October 2009. It is an umbrella group for various supporters of Catalan independence and the creation of a sovereign state for Catalonia. Currently, it has no representation in the...
failed due to a disagreement regarding the compilation of electoral list, and divergence in both tactical and strategic considerations.
Its slogans are: "Catalonia the next state of Europe" and "We make independence possible!".
Many public figures have supported the movement, for example Hèctor López Bofill, Toni Strubell
Toni Strubell i Trueta
Toni Strubell i Trueta is a Catalan linguist, son of Michael B. Strubell and Amèlia Trueta and brother of Miquel Strubell i Trueta...
, Isabel-Clara Simó
Isabel-Clara Simó
Isabel-Clara Simó i Monllor is a Valencian journalist and writer.She is considered one of the most important writers in the Catalan language. She has been awarded several prizes, including the Premi Sant Jordi in 1993. As a journalist, she was the director of Canigó magazine and has a daily column...
, Carles Solà
Carles Solà i Ferrando
Carles Solà was born in Xàtiva, Valencia Province on 1 January 1945.He awarded a PhD degree in Chemistry at the UV, he has carried out research in Biochemical Engineering with 130 publications, having tutored 22 doctoral theses and directed various research projects. He was Rector of the UAB...
, Josep Guia
Josep Guia
Josep Guia i Marín is a Valencian writer, mathematics professor of University of Valencia and political activist within PSAN party...
and Joel Joan
Joel Joan
Joel Joan is a Spanish Catalan actor, screenwriter and director.He studied drama at the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona. He created the theatre company Kràmpack in 1994 and he has been the administrator of Arriska Films since 2000....
.
In the 2010 Catalan elections
Catalonian parliamentary election, 2010
Elections to fill 135 seats of the Parliament of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain, were held on Sunday, 28 November 2010.-Electoral process:-Candidatures with current parliamentary representation:...
, it won 3,28% of the vote and 4 deputies in the Parliament of Catalonia
Parliament of Catalonia
The Parliament of Catalonia is the unicameral legislature of Catalonia. It is formed by 135 members , who are elected every four years in ordinary period, or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of Catalonia, by universal suffrage in proportional lists with four...
, among them the three co-founders. Three were elected in the constituency of Barcelona, and one in the constituency of Girona.
In 2011, the party's co-founder Joan Laporta
Joan Laporta
Joan Laporta i Estruch is a Spanish politician and former president of Futbol Club Barcelona between 2003 and 2010.Laporta is a lawyer with his own firm, Laporta & Arbós, which has important firms as clients. Laporta was married to Constanza Echevarría and has three sons, Pol, Guillem and Jan...
left the formation. The new party leader became Alfons López Tena.