Josep Vila has been elected the new president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) for the next two years, following a meeting of the new National Secretariat in Igualada. Vila secured 39 of the 58 votes cast, exceeding the two-thirds majority required in the first round.
The change in leadership sees Lluís Llach step down from the presidency, a position he chose not to seek re-election for. Llach will remain on the board, however, serving as vice-president after also receiving 39 votes. Ariadna Heinz, previously part of the organisation's critical sector, was named secretary, and Blanca Currià was chosen as treasurer.
Llach explained that the leadership change was made by consensus and was partly due to health reasons. He stated, "I want to help as much as I can, within my possibilities," adding that he is neither "tired" nor "giving up" the fight for independence. His new role will involve supporting territorial assemblies and conveying his intention "not to surrender."
Smooth Transition for ANC Leadership
Sources within the ANC confirmed that the National Secretariat's constitutive plenary session proceeded smoothly. This contrasts with the 2024 process, when Llach's election was delayed by a week due to multiple blocked votes from the critical sector.
Llach, with Vila by his side, described his successor as the "president of unity." Vila is tasked with continuing the ANC's renewal process, which began during the previous mandate. Vila expressed satisfaction that the new leadership period starts with "much internal cohesion," despite what he sees as Catalonia's "critical situation."
Vila's Vision for the Future
The new ANC leader is a pedagogue, professor, and activist, holding membership in the pro-independence organisation since its founding in 2012. During the recently concluded mandate, he coordinated the Political Advocacy Commission. Vila expects the relaunch of the pro-independence organisation to be "much more pronounced" moving forward, given the internal consensus after the critical sector's departure last summer.
"We need to simplify procedures, speed up decision-making, and make it easier to carry out actions," Vila stated. He also believes that the ANC's renewal must prepare it to "build a social majority capable of launching an independence offensive."
