Canto a la libertad

"Song to Liberty"

The "**Song to Liberty**" is an Aragonese patriotic song. It is one of the most well-known songs in the Aragonese language. It was written by Aragonese singer-songwriter José Antonio Labordeta. It was composed in 1975 to represent "a dream of solidarity, humanity, social justice, hope and freedom" and constitute "a hymn to the Aragonese people".

In 1989, in the debate for the urgent approval of an national anthem in the Cortes of Aragon, the Aragonese Party (PAR) proposed "Canto a la libertad" as the official anthem, after first consulting with the initiative with Labordeta. The proposal failed, however, being only supported by the PAR.

The party Chunta Aragonesista (CHA), founded in 1986 and of which Labordeta was a member, continued to insist it be recognized as the legitimate anthem.

After Labordeta passed away on 19 September 2010, multiple popular campaigns were started with the objective of promoting the adoption of "Canto a la libertad" as the Aragonese national anthem, which included the use of a citizens' initiative as stated in the Statute of Autonomy of Aragon.

About a month after the author's death, with the support of ten social and cultural associations including the Aragonese Institute of Anthropology, the Rolde of Aragonese Studies and the Amparo Poch Association, a committee was created to promote the legislative citizen's initiative for its adoption as the official anthem by the Cortes per the procedure set in the Law 7/1984, which regulates such initiatives. It was delivered on 22 October 2010 to the Mesa of the Aragonese Cortes, which accepted it for process on 28 October.

Between the start of the campaign on 25 November 2010, and 24 March 2011, when the signatures were presented to the Aragonese Electoral Junta, over 20,000 signatures were received, reaching 60% of the required signatures in two-thirds of the time required by the Law 7/1984.

After the Electoral Junta of Aragon was accredited, in case all the minimum requirements be reached, on 5 April 2011, the Mesa of the Cortes of Aragon ordered the publication as a Law Proposition for which Canto a la Libertad would be declared the official Anthem of Aragon.

The dissolution of the Cortes due to the autonomous elections of 22 May 2011 delayed the proposition to the next legislature. When the new deputies got their seats on 7 September, it was debated in the first ordinary plenary session of the Cortes that took place after the elections.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 PP y PAR rechazan la toma en consideración de la ILP del 'Canto a la libertad' (2011-09-15). 20 minutos, ed.
2. ↑ José Ángel Biel dice que es un día negro para Aragón (2010-09-19). El Periódico de Aragón.
3. ↑ Internet quiere el 'Canto a la libertad' como himno de Aragón
4. ↑ 'Canto a la libertad' en La Aljafería (2010-09-19). *Heraldo de Aragón*.
5. ↑ Diez asociaciones dan el primer paso para que el 'Canto a la libertad' sea himno de Aragón. *heraldo.es*.
6. ↑ La iniciativa para hacer del 'Canto a la libertad' el himno de Aragón inicia su andadura. *heraldo.es*.
7. ↑ Admitida a trámite la iniciativa popular para cambiar el himno de Aragón. *heraldo.es*.
8. ↑ Comienza la recogida de firmas para que 'Canto a la libertad' se convierta en el himno de Aragón (2010-11-25). *Heraldo de Aragón*.
9. ↑ Proposición de Ley por la que se declara himno de Aragón el Canto a la Libertad. Publicación por parte de la Mesa de las Cortes de Aragón. Legislatura VII. B.O.C.A. Nº 292. 5 de abril de 2011
10. ↑ Las Cortes rechazarán que 'Canto a la Libertad' sea Himno de Aragón. *heraldo.es*.