On Wednesday, there was great excitement at the Zarzuela Palace, where the socialist Salvador Illa met with King Felipe VI after nine years of absence by successive presidents of the Generalitat in audiences with the head of state. Illa expressed his happiness at being there, and this was the second meeting between the two since Illa was sworn in as Catalan president on August 14. The last president to visit La Zarzuela and have a private audience with the King was Artur Mas in 2015. Following the Catalan independence process, the relationship between the Generalitat and the monarchy became strained. Carles Puigdemont, Quim Torra, and Pere Aragonès all avoided meeting with Felipe VI after being sworn in as presidents of Catalonia. The meeting on Wednesday was seen as a step towards “normalizing institutional relations,” according to the Catalan government spokesperson Silvia Paneque.
This “normalcy” follows the long period of conflict during the Catalan independence process, during which the Catalan governments refused to recognize Felipe VI as head of state, especially after his speech on October 3, 2017 calling for the restoration of constitutional order following the illegal referendum on October 1st. Illa and the King last met at the end of August when Felipe VI made an official visit to Barcelona. Illa greeted the monarch and accompanied him during the visit. Illa’s agenda in Madrid continued in the evening with the celebration of the Diada at the Blanquerna Cultural Center, which was attended by a large representation of the Spanish government including the First Vice President María Jesús Montero. In his speech, Illa emphasized the need to maintain strong connections for when times are tough, after so much time lost.
The meeting between Illa and Felipe VI was seen as a significant step towards repairing institutional relations between Catalonia and the Spanish monarchy. The audience at La Zarzuela was a routine act for newly sworn-in regional presidents to meet with the King. However, previous Catalan presidents had avoided these meetings due to political tensions surrounding the issue of Catalan independence. Illa’s visit to Madrid also included attending celebrations for the Diada, Catalonia’s National Day, at which he highlighted the need to maintain strong connections between Catalonia and the rest of Spain. The day was marked by efforts to rebuild bridges and repair relations that had been strained in recent years.
The meeting between Salvador Illa and King Felipe VI at the Zarzuela Palace marked a turning point in the relationship between the Generalitat and the Spanish monarchy. The meeting was seen as a symbol of the efforts to restore normalcy and mend relations between Catalonia and the Spanish government. Illa’s visit to Madrid included attending various events, including the Diada celebrations, where he emphasized the importance of maintaining strong connections within Spain. Overall, the day was seen as a step towards reconciliation and rebuilding bridges that had been strained by the Catalan independence process. The resumption of formal meetings between the President of the Generalitat and the King was a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to normalize institutional relations.
