David Canyadó, mayor of Castellnou de Bages, has joined Carles Vilajosana’s family and Aliança Catalana in calling for stricter treatment of juvenile offenders after Vilajosana’s violent death following Manresa’s Festa Major. Canyadó spoke at a joint press conference on Thursday 1 October 2026 at the Catalan Parliament alongside Sílvia Orriols, leader of Aliança Catalana, following a private meeting between Vilajosana’s sister, Yolanda, and the Parliament’s Bureau.

Victim’s family meets Parliament leadership

Yolanda Vilajosana was received in a private audience by the Bureau of the Parliament of Catalonia, including President Josep Rull, vice-presidents Raquel Sans (ERC) and David Pérez (PSC), and members from Junts, ERC, and PSC. The meeting, confirmed by parliamentary sources, was held to express condolences and support. Attendees included around ten friends and associates of the family, as well as Canyadó, who has represented the family’s views publicly. The Bureau committed to taking action on security concerns raised, according to the Parliament.

The insecurity isn’t a perception, it’s a reality.

Demand for harsher penalties for minors

Canyadó, speaking on behalf of the family, stated that Carles Vilajosana was Catalan and emphasized that “protecting minors cannot mean leaving victims unprotected.” He added: “The family of Carles and many citizens believe the youth justice law must be toughened. We cannot allow a crime to go almost unpunished.” Orriols echoed this, saying: “It is indecent and unjust that citizens end up paying for politicians’ ideological obsessions.” She pledged to take personal responsibility to prevent further cases like Vilajosana’s and called for the Penal Code to be revised so minors are judged by the consequences of their actions, not their age. One of the two minors arrested in connection with the killing had recently spent nearly three months in a juvenile justice centre in Barcelona, according to RAC1 reports.

Next steps in parliamentary process

Following the press event, attendees joined the opening of the third day of the general policy debate in the parliamentary chamber. Yolanda Vilajosana did not speak at the press conference but was present beside the podium. She had previously vowed at her brother’s funeral to bring the case to the Parliament and “further beyond. I will go as far as necessary,” as reported by Regió7 on 4 September 2026. The current framework governing children’s rights in Catalonia is set out in Law 14/2010 of 27 May on the Rights and Opportunities of Children and Adolescence (available here), which emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment for under-18s. Public debate on possible amendments is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

Reported by elperiodico.com, Regió 7, regio7.cat, qoshe.com, Parlament de Catalunya, parlament.cat, rac1.cat, Guillem RS, gironanoticies.com, Departament d'Edicions del Parlament de Catalunya, El Periódico (CA).