The Cercle returned to its origins yesterday, where it all began in the distant 1951. The association held a meeting at Passeig Maristany, the emblematic Camprodon promenade that celebrated its centenary this year and where the creation of the Cercle d'Economia was devised more than 70 years ago.
Just when today Spain is preparing to go to the electoral appointment at a time of uncertainty, the attendees took the opportunity to vindicate the essence and founding values of the Cercle, focused on the defense of Europe and freedoms, the axes on which at that time the bourgeoisie, businessmen and intellectuals of the time opposed the Franco regime.
It was in that summer of 1951 that Carles Ferrer Salat and Joan Mas Cantí, in a conversation on Passeig Maristany, concerned about the international isolation and the lack of freedoms that they lived in Spain, thought of creating a business forum to promote debate among young people who shared the same concerns.
As an anecdote, the Cercle d'Economia was initially constituted under the legal form of a chess club, to contribute to the opening and modernization of the country. The initiative was born from meetings between its founders precisely in the same place in Camprodon where its main promoters met again yesterday.
The political context of that time did not allow an association, as the Círculo is today. That is why the Club Comodín was born, which formally brought together fans of the board game to be able to debate openly without arousing the suspicions of the Franco regime. Thus, the foundations of what, in 1958, would become the Círculo de Economía were established.
The event, charged with emotion, was attended by the mayor of Camprodon, Xavier Guitart, and the president of the Círculo de Economía, Jaume Guardiola. The councilor Maria Àngels Reixach and the former mayor, Esteve Pujol, also attended. In the words of Mayor Guitart, “for Camprodon it is an honor to remember that, in those dark years of our country, two young people had the initiative to create an association to discuss ideas with the aim of raising the Catalan society of that time. The Circle of Economy to 2023 is more alive than ever. It is to be appreciated that many people, selflessly, work so that things go to good port and to build a better society”.
About thirty members attended from the Círculo. President Jaume Guardiola was accompanied by the former presidents of the entity: Joan Mas Cantí, Carlos Cuatrecasas, Pedro Fontana, Salvador Alemany, Juan José Brugera and Javier Faus.
Also present were the general manager, Miquel Nadal and the former general manager, Jordi Alberich, as well as Pere Vicens, president of the publishing house Vicens Vives; Joaquim Uriach, president of Uriach and of the Orfeó Catalá-Palau de la Música Catalana foundation; Borja García-Nieto, president of the financial group Riva y García or Manuel Raventós, president of Raventós y Blanco.
In the celebration there was also a visit to the Isaac Albéniz Museum and to Ca Roig – Dr. Robert's birthplace, recently restored, and an event at Passeig Maristany to discover the panel that mentions the creation of the Círculo de Economía.
