Carles Puigdemont Quotes

"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."

"Our plan is what the Scottish government had with the U.K. It's an agreement to consult over the independence of Catalonia. And we will not abandon this plan until the end."

"The welfare of Catalonia is only possible outside of Spain."

"There is no button that you push and the next day you become independent."

"The independence project in Catalonia is... a peaceful revolution, carried out in suit, shirt, and tie."

"To be honest, I am very worried about the possibility of the U.K. leaving the E.U. But of course, like in the case of Catalonia, we have to respect the right to decide of the British people on a relationship that part of the Brits consider is not satisfying enough."

"We show each day that we are prepared to act as an independence state... Not just in exceptional moments."

"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."

"I don't want to go to prison... but there is nothing they can do to me that will make me stop this referendum."

"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."

"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."

"The alternative to independence is decline, because the relationship with the Spanish state is not good; everyone knows that."

"I think, in Spain, they are too used to reaching the limits of democracy and then stepping over them."

"No Catalan citizen and no Catalan company will leave the E.U. That is evident, and nobody can dispute it."

"I could not disobey the will of the Catalan parliament."

"What is more important? What the members of a politicised tribunal say, or what the citizens vote for? For me, it is clear."

"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?"

"Whoever doesn't want to hear our voice needs to see a political otolaryngologist."

"Catalan politics emancipated from the Spanish politics on September 27, 2015. Since then, we've acted with a sovereign mentality, political sovereignty."

"There's no alternative to Catalan independence."

"There's a serious and worrying return to the fall of democracy in Spain, and it's not just us who are realising that."

"A lot of people are angry about the democratic abuses that have been committed by the Spanish government."

"Catalan citizens are peaceful, European, and open-minded. We want to contribute to better international and European governance."

"Spain's constitution was introduced to cement democracy after Franco's dictatorship, but this government is exploiting its wording as a means to deny us our right to vote."

"It is crucial that there is a government in Madrid secure enough to engage with Catalonia politically rather than continue the denial and legal obstructionism of the Rajoy years."

"Spain's parties must steel themselves to do the sensible thing and treat the Catalonia issue with the seriousness it deserves."

"We must have serious dialogue between Catalonia and the Spanish state on a referendum, on independence, and on how a separation from Spain - if that's what the Catalan people choose - would be accomplished."

"The best leaders don't set timid and selfish goals but instead set bold targets that may be harder to achieve."

"The British people have the right to decide - have the right to decide whether or not they want to be part of the E.U. And I shouldn't interfere in this."

"I express Catalonia's wish of being in the E.U. We'll see what happens."