Madrid, September 18, 2024 — Catalan President Salvador Illa made a historic visit to King Felipe VI at the Zarzuela Palace on Wednesday, marking the first meeting between a Catalan leader and the Spanish monarch at his residence in nine years. The last such visit occurred in July 2015 when then-Catalan President Artur Mas met the King.
This significant event is seen as a step towards restoring institutional normalcy between the Catalan government and the Spanish monarchy, which had been strained following the 2017 independence referendum. Government spokesperson Silvia Paneque described the meeting as a move to «restore institutional normality,» while Illa highlighted on social media that «respect between institutions will also be one of the fundamental principles of this government’s political action.»
The relationship between Catalonia and the Spanish monarchy soured after the October 1, 2017 referendum, which was deemed illegal by Spain. Following the vote, King Felipe VI delivered a rare institutional address urging the Spanish government to «restore constitutional order» and indirectly supporting the activation of Article 155. This article allowed the suspension of Catalonia’s self-government and was seen as a harsh response to the referendum, provoking outrage among pro-independence politicians.
Since then, successive Catalan presidents—Carles Puigdemont, Quim Torra, and Pere Aragonès—have refrained from visiting Zarzuela, maintaining a distance from the Spanish monarchy. The meeting between Illa and King Felipe VI signifies a potential thaw in relations, emphasizing a shift towards dialogue and respect between the two institutions.
