HUGE DEMONSTRATION IN SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA TO MARK GALIZAN NATIONAL DAY 2010
This year marks the 46th Anniversary of the foundation of the Galizan People’s Union (UPG) and the 90th anniversary of the first National Day celebrations.
Once again, thousands of people responded to the call launched by the Galizan Nationalist Bloc (BNG) (the Patriotic Front co-founded by the UPG) to celebrate Galizan National Day on 25 July. The huge demonstration held in the capital, Santiago de Compostela, was attended by over 20,000 rallying to the cry of Fai valer a túa forza (‘Make your Strength Felt’) and calling for the recognition of Galiza’s rights as a nation.
In his speech during the final rally in the city’s main Quintana Square, the BNG national spokesperson, Guillerme Vázquez, analysed the current situation in Galiza, marked primarily by the political backsliding currently underway in the Spanish State as a whole and by the economic crisis.
The national spokesperson of the BNG warned the mainstream Spanish parties (PP and PSOE) that Galizan nationalism and the Galizan people will not remain silent in the face of the attempts to do away with the conquests made so far. This backsliding basically revolves around an attempt to impose a centralist system which denies the plurinational nature of the Spanish State by refusing to accept that it is made up of several different nations. In September the BNG will launch a campaign centred on the need for a new political framework and a new legislative framework based on a National Statute for Galiza as another step forwards along the path the recognition of the plurinational make-up of the Spanish State.
Referring to the economic crisis, the national spokesperson accused the Spanish government headed by President Zapatero of defending the interests of the financial speculators and the markets by imposing reforms designed by the very people who are responsible for the current situation. Once again he expressed Galizan nationalism’s rejection of the measures intended to deregulate labour relations combined with cut-backs in basic social rights backed not only by the ruling Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) but also by the main centre-right opposition party (PP), both jointly responsible for the current situation. He finished his speech by calling on all those present to take part in the General Strike convened for September by the Galizan Inter-union Organisation (CIG), demanding an economic policy based on the needs of the majority of society.
Many foreign delegations were also present, standing as a testimony to the commitment of Galizan nationalism to other peoples fighting for their national rights and for the construction of a fairer society.
46 years since the foundation of the UPG
The 25th of July also marks the anniversary of the foundation of the Galizan People’s Union (UPG). Our party was founded clandestinely 46 years ago, bringing together Nationalism and Marxism as a Patriotic Communist Party basing its two-fold ideology on the colonial dependence of Galiza in line with the nationalist thinking of such figures as Alexandre Bóveda and Castelao on the one hand, combined with the Marxist ideology of Marx and Engels as developed by Lenin on the other.
Once again, on its 46th anniversary, the streets of Santiago de Compostela were filled with national flag of Galiza marching side by side with the red flag of the UPG.
