|
Homage to Francesc Macià in La Plata (Argentina) on the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Catalan Republic.
As part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Catalan Republic "as a state within the Iberian Federation" by president Francesc Macià on April 14th 1931, the Casal dels Països Catalans in La Plata (Argentina) christened the main room of its centre with his name.
The presence of Arnaldo Macià, great-nephew of the man who became president of the Generalitat in April 1931, made this event particularly significant. Macià emotionally thanked the Casal's president, Mercè Quixal, and its secretary, Carlos Capdevila, for their speeches. Also present were the president and vice-president of the Centro Basko Eusko Etxea in La Plata, Jorge Heguy and José Orbaiceta, respectively, as well as members of the Catalan community, students on courses there and friends.
After unveiling the plaque with an image of Francesc Macià, the flag of the Catalan Republic and a passage from the historic proclamation of the Republic, the Catalan national anthem (Els Segadors) was sung, a biographical outline of Francesc Macià was read and an exhibition of photographs of president Macià's hometown, Vilanova i la Geltrú, was opened.
The Casal´s secretary, Carlos Capdevila, recalled Macià's visit to Argentina in 1928, during his exile between 1923 and 1930, his sustained efforts on behalf of Catalonia, the foundation of 'Solidaritat Catalana', the Catalan state, the Nationalist Democratic Federation and, finally, his active participation in the creation of 'Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya' (ERC).
|
