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Wales has ‘much to learn’ from Catalonia says Wood as she meets with Puigdemont

24 Jan 2018 4 minute read
Carles Puigdemont and Leanne Wood

Plaid Cymru’s leader has said that Wales has “much to learn” from Catalonia as she met with the country’s President in Brussels today.

After meeting with Carles Puigdemont, who is currently in exile in Brussels, Leanne Wood said that it was an opportunity to show how much people in Wales respected his courage.

“It was an honour to meet President Puigdemont and to express solidarity with the Catalan people in their campaign for independence,” she said.

“The President, his Ministers and many people in Catalonia have suffered the repression of the Spanish state.

“I was pleased to personally convey so many people in Wales’s respect for the courage demonstrated by the Catalan independence movement.

“We in Wales have much to learn from the way in which they have decided that decisions affecting people in Catalonia should be taken fully by them.

“As the President said himself, the struggle for self-determination has democracy at its core, and I give him, his colleagues and supporters the utmost support in the next phase of their campaign.”

‘United’

Plaid Cymru’s delegation had travelled to Brussels today to discuss maintaining economic and diplomatic ties with other EU counttries in the wake of Brexit.

As well as Catalan leaders, Leanne Wood and Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts MP attended meetings with representatives of the Scottish and Irish governments.

They said that the National Assembly should have the same right as all European national and regional parliaments to approve or reject a Brexit deal that hurt Wales’ economy.

“As the Brexit talks proceed it becomes clearer that Wales’s voice is being ignored by Westminster,” Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Adam Price, said.

“That is why a Plaid Cymru delegation is travelling to the heart of the EU this week with an united message that remaining in the single market and customs union, and protecting trade links are in the best interests of the Welsh economy.

“We already know that the final Brexit trade deal struck with the EU will have to be agreed by over 40 national and regional European parliaments.

“It is inconceivable that the region of Wallonia will have a say on a trade deal that will directly impact the Welsh economy while our own National Assembly will not.

“Last week, my colleagues Steffan Lewis succeeded in securing unanimous support in the Senedd for his proposal for a Welsh Continuity Bill to prevent a Westminster power grab.

“Plaid Cymru now wants to see the Assembly unite yet again to demand the right to withold consent for any Brexit trade deal that would be detrimental to the Welsh economy.”

Plaid Cymru’s MEP, Jill Evans MEP, who was one of the European Parliament’s leading campaigners against the ‘TTIP’ trade deal, said that it was vital that they focus on trade.

“It is vital that Plaid Cymru focuses on the future of trade, including any trade deal which might be reached between Wales, the UK and the European Uniom,” she said.

“Remaining in the Single Market and Customs Union is the best way to ensure Welsh prosperity, but the European Parliament, EU Commission and UK are now moving towards trade talks.

“Trade deals don’t just cover goods being bought and sold. They influence regulation, the environment, and public services. Plaid Cymru has always argued that public services should not be opened up to international markets. We always aim to put people before profits.

“As Member of the European Parliament I have repeatedly sought to protect Wales from bad trade deals like TTIP, whilst promoting the rest of Europe as a destination for Welsh products. The Welsh national interest demands that we play a full role in shaping any future trade deals.”


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12 Comments
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michael Matthews
michael Matthews
6 years ago

Leanne Wood should spend more of her time dealing with the continued suppression of Wales by England rather than waste her time discussing maters that have little interest to the majority of Welsh people.

JD
JD
6 years ago

Just pathetic. Further evidence that Plaid have disappeared up their own arse and couldn’t care less about the things that really matter in Wales. Another nail in the coffin for this useless party.

Pen-Cloch
Pen-Cloch
6 years ago

No mention of Welsh Independence.

Tame Frontiersman
Tame Frontiersman
6 years ago

What indeed are the lessons to be learnt from Mr Puigdemont’s push for Catalan independence?

Alun John
Alun John
6 years ago

There are some right miseries commenting on here today. There have been demonstrations all around Wales in support of the Catalans so it’s clearly of interest to lots of people here. Well done to Leanne and the others for getting out there on the European stage and showing dignity and leadership.

Stan
Stan
6 years ago

Yes, well done indeed. Pity that leadership didn’t extend to putting the boot into Welsh Labour. On a day when it is reported that people close to the WAG are afraid to give evidence to one of the inquiries set up into the Sargeant affair because of potential repercussions, Leanne and her Party seem to have spectacularly missed yet another opportunity to get stuck into this appalling “Government. Couldn’t kick a ball into the goal from the penalty spot if the keeper was down the pub.

Dafydd Williams
Dafydd Williams
6 years ago

Good that Leanne has met the Catalan president and supported Catalunya’s right to independence. End of.

Gwilym ab Ioan
6 years ago

“Angel pen ffordd a diawl pen tân” Charity begins at home. As if Leanne Woods needs more information about what’s wrong and how to deal with it in Cymru. Carles Puigdemont does not have a magic silver bullet that Leanne can bring home and in a flash realise what she needs to do with a new found secret weapon. It’s an insult to our intelligence if I’m to be brutally honest about it. Display solidarity by all means, but if you can’t do the same at home it’s pure hypocrisy to pretend you need someone to show you the way… Read more »

Jonathan Edwards Sir Benfro
Jonathan Edwards Sir Benfro
6 years ago

No, Dafydd, not “end of”. What she did was the easy part. How nice to visit Catalunya in the Med during a Welsh January! What about: hold a referendum even though it is only 90% legal, face the riot police, face or dodge arrest to keep the flag flying. Confront Madrid. Maybe do a statesmanlike deal with Madrid AFTER you’ve had the confrontation? What ever you do – you must confront! No doubt Madrid plays the Unionist game a bit harder than London would. But any anti-Unionist game is hard. If you can’t handle this fact, don’t play in the… Read more »

Dafis
Dafis
6 years ago

Consistent with the p**s and wind politics of last 5 years or more. It’s so bloody easy to generate hot air regarding someone else’s problems but when it comes to the mess in our own back yard hardly a squeak. These people are wedded to the Labour way of doing things – they won’t rock the boat because one day they might be glad of a nice little number funded by the Welsh Labour government sitting on committees, boards, and other hot air and bullshit factories. One thing for sure you won’t see Ms Wood sticking her neck on the… Read more »

CambroUiDunlainge
CambroUiDunlainge
6 years ago
Reply to  Dafis

Bet he saw right through to be honest. Can you imagine Leanne Wood going into exile? I think thats what we need to ask who ever replaces her… “Would you go into exile to fight for the right for your people to rule themselves”.

Gareth Tuen
Gareth Tuen
6 years ago

If I could go into exile after fighting for the right of Y Cymru to rule themselves, I would be soooooo happy!

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