They are very brave when they talk about other countries where they have no competencies, but where are they when we citizens need them? Is Europe's solution to Catalans to turn its back? Carles Puigdemont More Quotes by Carles Puigdemont More Quotes From Carles Puigdemont We don't have a budget and we don't have a parliamentary majority. Carles Puigdemont world All we want is to carry out the greatest expression of a free democracy and vote on Catalonia's future. This is not about independence: it is about fundamental civil rights and the universal right of self-determination. Carles Puigdemont independencefuturevotedemocracy Catalan politics emancipated from the Spanish politics on September 27, 2015. Since then, we've acted with a sovereign mentality, political sovereignty. Carles Puigdemont thenmentalitypoliticspolitical The independence project in Catalonia is... a peaceful revolution, carried out in suit, shirt, and tie. Carles Puigdemont shirtprojectindependencerevolution We do not want to turn our back on Spain. It's the opposite. We are convinced that a relationship between equals will improve our relationship. Carles Puigdemont willbackwantrelationship I think, in Spain, they are too used to reaching the limits of democracy and then stepping over them. Carles Puigdemont overthinkdemocracylimits I could not disobey the will of the Catalan parliament. Carles Puigdemont disobeycouldwillparliament If you're hungry, you know that you want to eat. You don't know what's on the menu - perhaps it's not your favorite dish - but you will eat. Carles Puigdemont yourwillknowyou In a mature democracy, what is legal is decided by parliament... Our process is legitimised by parliament and by the ballot box. Carles Puigdemont legaldemocracymatureprocess To me, the European Union says there is a charter that protects you; you have fundamental rights, and they are staying silent when they are violating my fundamental rights. Carles Puigdemont meyoueuropean-unionsilent How can we later criticise other countries outside the European Union for adopting such measures to repress opponents when we are tolerating this inside the European Union with European citizens? Like me - I'm a European citizen. Carles Puigdemont insidelikemeeuropean-union He who calls a person a fascist for opposing independence is not only wrong but putting themselves on the same level as those who call us Nazis for wanting independence. Carles Puigdemont uswrongpersonindependence The alternative to independence is decline, because the relationship with the Spanish state is not good; everyone knows that. Carles Puigdemont goodindependenceknowsrelationship No Catalan citizen and no Catalan company will leave the E.U. That is evident, and nobody can dispute it. Carles Puigdemont leavenobodywillcompany What is more important? What the members of a politicised tribunal say, or what the citizens vote for? For me, it is clear. Carles Puigdemont saymevoteimportant Whoever doesn't want to hear our voice needs to see a political otolaryngologist. Carles Puigdemont seepoliticalvoicewant There's no alternative to Catalan independence. Carles Puigdemont alternativeindependence There's a serious and worrying return to the fall of democracy in Spain, and it's not just us who are realising that. Carles Puigdemont usdemocracyseriousfall A lot of people are angry about the democratic abuses that have been committed by the Spanish government. Carles Puigdemont aboutangrygovernmentpeople We're seeing a reaction - and people taking to the streets with pots and pans - in areas where the independence movement isn't supposed to exist. People have to choose between one model and another. Everyone in Catalonia has realised that not taking part means ratifying the politics of repression of the Spanish government. Carles Puigdemont choosepoliticsgovernmentpeople