DOLORS ÁLVAREZ. BARCELONA 04/03/2021
Today, the Catalan business community representing more than 450,000 entities gathered hundreds of businessmen and CEOS at the Estació del Nord in an event led by Foment and Pimec to demand the end of street vandalism and the formation of a cohesive government in Catalonia focused on the recovery of the economy. During the event, the manifesto “¡Enough is Enough! Let’s focus on recovery ” was read and received some 300 adhesions from guilds, associations and professional circles.
The event was closed by the president of Foment, the largest business association, Josep Sánchez Llibre, who highlighted the importance of having been able to sum to the manifesto and to the claim the Chamber of Commerce that Mònica Roca presides over. Sánchez Llibre has asked the Government “not stop us” and to govern.
“We want to put an end to the anguish that people and businesses are suffering and work to recover the reputational prestige of Catalonia, its capital Barcelona and all cities,” said Sánchez Llibre.
The act began with an intervention by the president of Pimec, Antoni Cañete, who assured that the Government had “arbitrarily” closed some businesses for many weeks. Cañete claimed “sustained aid” over time so that the viability of the companies can be “guaranteed.”
Personalities such as Javier Godó, Conde de Godó, editor of La Vanguardia, Wayne Griffiths (Seat); José Creuheras (Planet); Jordi Gual (CaixaBank); Jaume Guardiola (Banc Sabadell); Marc Puig (Puig) or Ángel Simón (Agbar). Juan Jose Brugera (Colonial) and Aurora Catà (Barcelona Global) also stand out among the attendees
The manifesto highlights the “exhaustion” of employers and citizens in general in the face of the crisis caused by Covid and the restrictions adopted to contain it. He also criticizes an “apparent governmental paralysis” in Catalonia, which has been evident with the altercations in the streets, especially in the city of Barcelona. For this reason, the Generalitat and the municipalities are required to “exercise their democratic authority and their responsibilities without complexes in order to regain peace and coexistence in our streets.” It is also urged to form “without delay” a government in Catalonia “stable and cohesive” and focused on economic recovery.
To achieve this recovery, the “immediate negotiation and signing of a country pact” is proposed between political forces, administrations and civil society entities. A call is also made to the Spanish Government to also immediately grant aid to companies and companies. the self-employed most affected by the pandemic crisis.
The president of Foment del Treball, Josep Sánchez Llibre, warned yesterday that the images of vandalism in Barcelona and other Catalan cities cause “immense reputational damage and slow down investments”. In an interview on Antena 3, he pointed out that Catalan businessmen do not want “for Barcelona to become a vandalism capital” and affirmed that today’s act aims to be a “peaceful demonstration of force” and a “self-affirmation of what society represents. Catalan ”.
“We will value the weight of businessmen and civil society before the future rulers of Catalonia, so that they take into consideration that they must govern for all Catalans and focus on recovery,” he added. According to him he said, in view of the accessions received, today 90% of the GDP of Catalonia will be represented.
List of: Entities adherent to Manifesto “Enough is enough”
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