Bosch to prioritise self-determination

“Catalonia has the right to be known and recognised, and for it’s right to self-determination to be known and recognised.” Along with its offices around the world, that is what president Quim Torra sees as the main task of the foreign affairs department, which since yesterday has a new head in Alfred Bosch.

“I ask you to act as the country’s minister for foreign affairs,” Torra told Bosch in his swearing in ceremony at Catalan government headquarters, in which he also referred to jailed former foreign affairs minister, Raül Romeva. In fact, visiting Romeva in the Lledoners prison will be Bosch’s first act in the post.

The president charged Bosch with “the huge task” of explaining to the world the “serious situation of threat” to the civil and political freedoms of independence supporters. “This situation needs intelligent and effective dedication,” said Torra, who called on the new minister to add his efforts to those of the former president Carles Puigdemont and the rest of the exiled political leaders.

Torra also thanked the outgoing minister, Ernest Maragall, who is leaving the post so he can run for mayor of Barcelona in next year’s local elections, for his work in reopening the offices abroad and reinstating Diplocat.

Soon after taking up his post, Bosch crossed plaça Sant Jaume to officially give up his post as a Barcelona local councillor in the plenary session that was taking place at the same time. In a brief speech, the new minister made it clear that his original intention had been to again stand as a candidate for mayor of the Catalan capital: “I am aware that I have not seen the job through to the end,” he said, adding that once the plenary session was over he would meet with mayor Ada Colau to discuss common foreign policies, taking advantage of “the power” that Barcelona has as a brand.