Catalan Independence Leaders Condemn Mendoza and Mariscal for Sant Jordi Criticism
Prominent figures in the Catalan independence movement have launched harsh criticisms against writer Eduardo Mendoza and designer Javier Mariscal following their controversial comments regarding the Sant Jordi celebration. Mendoza previously suggested separating Book Day from the religious feast of Saint George, describing the saint as an 'animal abuser.' Mariscal subsequently echoed these sentiments, criticizing Catalan traditions like 'pa amb tomàquet' as mere marketing constructs. In response, former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont labeled the two men 'resentful,' 'bad people,' and 'cowards,' accusing them of bitterness toward the post-Franco emergence of Catalan identity. Senate spokesperson Eduard Pujol also condemned their remarks, linking them to the current political climate under the Socialist government. Meanwhile, an anonymous collective has gathered thousands of signatures demanding the revocation of Mendoza’s Cross of Sant Jordi award. The Catalan government, led by Salvador Illa, has distanced itself from Mendoza’s views, with officials emphasizing that Sant Jordi is a vital expression of Catalan history and language, despite dismissing the campaign to strip the award as 'silly.'
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Catalan Independence Leaders Condemn Mendoza and Mariscal for Sant Jordi Criticism
Prominent figures in the Catalan independence movement have launched harsh criticisms against writer Eduardo Mendoza and designer Javier Mariscal following their controversial comments regarding the Sant Jordi celebration. Mendoza previously suggested separating Book Day from the religious feast of Saint George, describing the saint as an 'animal abuser.' Mariscal subsequently echoed these sentiments, criticizing Catalan traditions like 'pa amb tomàquet' as mere marketing constructs. In response, former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont labeled the two men 'resentful,' 'bad people,' and 'cowards,' accusing them of bitterness toward the post-Franco emergence of Catalan identity. Senate spokesperson Eduard Pujol also condemned their remarks, linking them to the current political climate under the Socialist government. Meanwhile, an anonymous collective has gathered thousands of signatures demanding the revocation of Mendoza’s Cross of Sant Jordi award. The Catalan government, led by Salvador Illa, has distanced itself from Mendoza’s views, with officials emphasizing that Sant Jordi is a vital expression of Catalan history and language, despite dismissing the campaign to strip the award as 'silly.'
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