The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, affirmed this Friday, in his traditional Christmas speech, on Sant Esteve Day, that “good will” is the engine of a better future. “Let us do everything possible to be a country and a society of good will. Let us stand next to the truth. Next to humanism. Next to fraternity and the spirit of cooperation,” demanded Illa.
“The response to the needs and challenges of Catalonia is not to blame people who have less or those who are different,” added the socialist, with comments which, without citing a concrete case, recall the recent social drama experienced in Badalona after the expulsion of dozens of migrants from a municipal building. “We will make a better Catalonia for everyone, with useful politics and responsible public policies, with solutions at the service of the people,” he stressed.
At a time when speeches that display bad desires as opposed to so-called “goodism” are multiplying, the head of government devoted his speech to restoring traditional values such as “empathy, solidarity and responsibility”.
“The country, united, with predominant feelings of empathy, solidarity and collective responsibility, has demonstrated its capacity to face climate emergencies such as the fires of La Noguera, La Segarra or Urgell, as well as the floods in Terres de l’Ebre, or the recent epidemics of lumpy skin disease and swine fever,” he recalled, reviewing some of the toughest events of the year.
Christmas, the president stressed, must serve to reconnect with human values. “What do we have left if we don’t act humanely? he wondered. “Humanity means welcoming and integrating people who need it, it means defending our welfare state to guarantee public education and health for all,” he said.
Illa also spoke with particular emphasis on Europe, “our space of belonging”, he said, which “is experiencing a crucial moment”. “The challenges facing Europe today go beyond a simple political question. Our model of life, democratic coexistence and shared prosperity is at stake,” he stressed.
The President of the Government also wanted to launch an appeal for hope because, he said, “nothing is written”. “Catalonia has shown that challenges are faced with collective action and trust as essential elements,” he assured, which is why he predicted that 2026 would be an even better year than the one ending today.
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