Carles Puigdemont

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

“In a mature democracy, what is legal is decided by parliament... Our process is legitimised by parliament and by the ballot box.”

“We cannot say no to what has already been approved by the citizens.”

“With Rajoy, there is a taboo topic, which is the aspiration of Catalonia to decide its future.”

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

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

“If Madrid does not want an accord, and the majority of Catalans want an independent state, how can you avoid that?”

“If you're hungry, you know that you want to eat. You don't know what's on the menu - perhaps it's not your favorite dish - but you will eat.”

“We do not want to turn our back on Spain. It's the opposite. We are convinced that a relationship between equals will improve our relationship.”

“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.”

“We're seeing a reaction - and people taking to the streets with pots and pans - in areas where the independence movement isn't supposed to exist. People have to choose between one model and another. Everyone in Catalonia has realised that not taking part means ratifying the politics of repression of the Spanish government.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“The welfare of Catalonia is only possible outside of Spain.”

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

“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.”

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

“I don't believe there will be anyone who will use violence or who will want to provoke violence that will tarnish the irreproachable image of the Catalan independence movement as pacifist.”

“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?”