Quotes from Carles Puigdemont

What is more important? What the members of a politicised tribunal say, or what the citizens vote for? For me, it is clear.

All we want is to carry out the greatest expression of a free democracy and vote on Catalonia's future. This is not about independence: it is about fundamental civil rights and the universal right of self-determination.

Catalan citizens are peaceful, European, and open-minded. We want to contribute to better international and European governance.

If you're hungry, you know that you want to eat. You don't know what's on the menu - perhaps it's not your favorite dish - but you will eat.

He who calls a person a fascist for opposing independence is not only wrong but putting themselves on the same level as those who call us Nazis for wanting independence.

We're seeing a reaction - and people taking to the streets with pots and pans - in areas where the independence movement isn't supposed to exist. People have to choose between one model and another. Everyone in Catalonia has realised that not taking part means ratifying the politics of repression of the Spanish government.

We cannot say no to what has already been approved by the citizens.

Our plan is what the Scottish government had with the U.K. It's an agreement to consult over the independence of Catalonia. And we will not abandon this plan until the end.

It is crucial that there is a government in Madrid secure enough to engage with Catalonia politically rather than continue the denial and legal obstructionism of the Rajoy years.

The welfare of Catalonia is only possible outside of Spain.

We show each day that we are prepared to act as an independence state... Not just in exceptional moments.

It's very irresponsible to deny the reality of a problem to see whether it might stop existing.

In a mature democracy, what is legal is decided by parliament... Our process is legitimised by parliament and by the ballot box.

No Catalan citizen and no Catalan company will leave the E.U. That is evident, and nobody can dispute it.

Whoever doesn't want to hear our voice needs to see a political otolaryngologist.

The return to normality is a defeat for the terrorists.

There is no button that you push and the next day you become independent.

I express Catalonia's wish of being in the E.U. We'll see what happens.

Spain's constitution was introduced to cement democracy after Franco's dictatorship, but this government is exploiting its wording as a means to deny us our right to vote.

The independence project in Catalonia is... a peaceful revolution, carried out in suit, shirt, and tie.

I don't want to go to prison... but there is nothing they can do to me that will make me stop this referendum.

The best leaders don't set timid and selfish goals but instead set bold targets that may be harder to achieve.

To be honest, I am very worried about the possibility of the U.K. leaving the E.U. But of course, like in the case of Catalonia, we have to respect the right to decide of the British people on a relationship that part of the Brits consider is not satisfying enough.

With Rajoy, there is a taboo topic, which is the aspiration of Catalonia to decide its future.