200 Activists Unfurl Large Independence Flag During Royal Visit to Montserrat

About 200 protesters unfurled a large independence flag at around 10 am in front of the Cremallera exit leading up to the Montserrat Monastery to express their opposition to the Royal visit to the Abbey this Monday.

A police cordon by the Mossos d'Esquadra prevented the protesters from approaching the Abbey, where the monarchs will participate in a ceremony commemorating the Millennium of its foundation from 12 pm.

The independence supporters, who arrived through various marches from the Salut de Collbató car park, Can Maçana, and the Aeri de Montserrat (Barcelona), chanted slogans in Catalan such as 'Catalonia has no King' and 'Montserrat will always be ours'.

The former President of the Generalitat and leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, criticized the visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to the Montserrat Monastery (Monistrol de Montserrat) on Monday, where they will participate in the central event of the Millennium of the Abbey's foundation: "It is part of the plan to Spanishize the country," he stated.

In a message on X, he described the visit as a provocation, asserting that they are aware of it in Madrid, and "on both sides of Plaça Sant Jaume," referring to the Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council, which he claimed are enthusiastically collaborating in it, in his words.

"May the Sant Joan bonfire tonight burn, with the flame that has descended from Canigó, the immense cushion they want to place over us," he concluded.