In a significant political shift, Catalonia's President Salvador Illa will attend Spain's National Day celebrations in Madrid, marking the first time in 14 years that a Catalan leader participates in the event.

This move symbolizes a departure from the separatist stance of his predecessors, who consistently avoided the ceremony.

Illa's attendance reflects his efforts to restore "institutional normality" and mend relations with the Spanish government.

His approach aims to attract moderate nationalists disillusioned by the independence movement, signaling a new era of political centrality in Catalonia.

Illa's gestures, including meeting with former Catalan leader Jordi Pujol, underscore his strategy to bridge divides and foster unity within the region.