Catalan political leaders will gather on Wednesday to mark the 85th anniversary of Lluís Companys’s execution, with commemorations planned at Montjuïc Castle and the Fossar de la Pedrera cemetery. The former president of Catalonia was shot by Francoist forces on October 15, 1940, following a summary court martial that lasted less than one hour. Spain’s Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory recently declared the trial “illegal and illegitimate” in an official communication to the Generalitat.
Historical Significance
Companys became president of Catalonia following Francesc Macià’s death on Christmas Day 1933. His declaration of the ‘Catalan State within the Spanish Federal Republic’ from the Generalitat balcony preceded his arrest and the suspension of Catalan autonomy. He was restored to power after the Popular Front’s 1936 election victory and led Catalonia throughout the Civil War. Following exile in France, Nazi forces arrested him in occupied Brittany at the Franco regime’s request. The Spanish government’s recent recognition confirms he was persecuted for his position and political ideology.
Contemporary Relevance
The commemorations occur amid ongoing discussions about historical memory and democratic values. Current political figures including Salvador Illa, Josep Rull and Jaume Collboni will participate in Wednesday’s events. This anniversary comes as Catalonia continues to examine its complex historical relationship with central government.
The official recognition of judicial irregularities in Companys’s case represents a significant development in Spain’s reckoning with its past. According to government documents, the original verdict has been formally invalidated. Wednesday’s ceremonies will honour Companys’s final words before execution: ‘Per Catalunya!’ The events underscore Catalonia’s ongoing engagement with historical memory and democratic principles. Political representatives across the spectrum are expected to attend the commemorations, reflecting broad recognition of this historical moment’s significance.
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