Minister Closes Institutional Tribute
Regional minister Sílvia Paneque, head of the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition in Catalonia’s government, closed the official tribute to Walter Benjamin at Portbou cemetery on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The event included a floral offering alongside Jordi Font, director of the Memorial Democràtic. Paneque stated the government’s aim to strengthen Portbou as a site of memory and reflection through the upcoming Walter Benjamin Space, with hopes it will soon host the annual International Walter Benjamin Colloquium.
From the government, we want to add a value of memory and reflection to Portbou with the new Walter Benjamin Space, and we hope it can soon become the venue for the Colloquium.
Focus on Memory and Democratic Values
The tribute forms part of the 18th International Walter Benjamin Colloquium, running from 25 to 27 September 2026 under the theme The Right to Have Rights: Hannah Arendt in Today’s World. This year’s event highlights the work of the German-Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt, exploring democracy, human rights, migration, and citizenship. Paneque described the event as deeply moving, noting that “sometimes, the darkest moments of our history resonate in the present we live in.” She welcomed the participation of young people in the discussions as a “light of hope” and affirmed Portbou’s growing role as a space for intellectual and political reflection.
Future Cultural Hub Planned
The new Walter Benjamin Space, set to be established in the former town hall building, is part of a broader initiative by the Generalitat to reinforce memory culture in Catalonia. The government has declared the Passages Memorial to Walter Benjamin in Portbou a Cultural Asset of National Interest. The project aims to transform the town into a permanent hub for critical thought, linking historical memory with contemporary debate. The colloquium, co-organised by the Memorial Democràtic and supported by the University of Girona’s Walter Benjamin Chair, continues until Sunday, 27 September, bringing together voices from contemporary philosophy and political thought.
Primary sources: govern.cat, udg.edu. Reported by diaricatalunya.cat, gerio.cat, CatalunyaPress.cat, CatalunyaPress.es, Llibertat.cat, 3CatInfo, Diari Catalunya.
