Madrid prepares to take over Catalonia on Saturday

Paul Rees 19 October 2017

CatalanCrowdFlags Madrid is planning to trigger the article that will allow the suspension of Catalonia’s political autonomy. This is planned for Saturday, after the break-away region’s leader missed a deadline to clarify his hitherto ambiguous declaration of independence.

The Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, was given a deadline of 10.30am on Thursday to make clear whether Catalonia had declared independence from Spain, or not.

Puigdemont did declare independence days after the October 1st referendum but immediately suspended it to put pressure on Madrid to go to mediation.

Having had no answer, Madrid confirmed today that therefore it is going to invoke the dreaded nuclear option of Article 155 of Spain’s 1978 constitution, enabling Prime Minister Rajoy to take administrative control of Catalonia.

On Wednesday night, Puigdemont told his party faithful that he would not back down and that he would press ahead with a more formal declaration of independence if Rajoy does suspend Catalonia’s autonomy, as the Spanish PM has threatened.

Comments

+2 #8 graziano 2017-10-23 11:19

Quoting marjolein Massis:

At last the truth about the Government in Madrid. Just watching a interview on BBC 1, with the foreign minister of Spain on T.V. The man who is REPRESENTING Spain to the WORLD. He tells us, the world, that the reporters who report the beating of at least 850 Catalonians , a short time ago, are spreading FAKE News and that the pictures we see of bloody faces and people kicked to the ground are fake and manipulated pictures. Further he tells us that the fake news and fake pictures are based on ALTERNATIVE FACTS . He does not explain what the alternative facts are. A pity. Am I glad, so glad that Portugal at least has a President who dares to start fighting against the inheritance of the past Salazar regime and who, at last,is going to make the changes necessary . A President who is willing to listen, in a democratic way, to the complains of the people.

You're absolutely right! We all know what fake news are: they are news some (most?) government don't want us to know, in few words only their truth is real, the rest is fake - do what I say, don't do what I do... Regarding Portugal: once more I completely agree with you - we have the best president and the best government, the rest of Europe can dream about this. I hope this little south-west corner of paradise will stay as it is and be an example for others.

+7 #7 marjolein Massis 2017-10-22 10:23

At last the truth about the Government in Madrid. Just watching a interview on BBC 1, with the foreign minister of Spain on T.V. The man who is REPRESENTING Spain to the WORLD. He tells us, the world, that the reporters who report the beating of at least 850 Catalonians , a short time ago, are spreading FAKE News and that the pictures we see of bloody faces and people kicked to the ground are fake and manipulated pictures. Further he tells us that the fake news and fake pictures are based on ALTERNATIVE FACTS . He does not explain what the alternative facts are. A pity. Am I glad, so glad that Portugal at least has a President who dares to start fighting against the inheritance of the past Salazar regime and who, at last,is going to make the changes necessary . A President who is willing to listen, in a democratic way, to the complains of the people.

+1 #6 Mike Thompson 2017-10-20 19:21

In this atmosphere of referendums across the EU for further autonomy or even independence - given the opportunity -how quickly would the ballot boxes be out in the 'European' north around Porto ? Where I live it has been often mulled over.
Secession from what they openly call the 'Arab South' of Portugal.

+3 #5 nogin the nog 2017-10-20 15:38

hmm
Having lived in this region for a number of years, I totally understand the Catalan bid for freedom. I feel the Catalans would in fact embrace there independence.
That's why Mr Rajoy disrupted the referendum with heavy handed tactics.. Catalan unlike Scotland not only wants its independence, but is in a position to survive if it was ever granted..

-5 #4 Plain Speaking 2017-10-20 13:09

Quoting Peter Booker:

"And who defends the 50% who want to stay part of Spain. They have a "will" as well."

As President Putin has said, the West has a double standard when talking of democracy and independence. He quoted the cases of Kosovo and Crimea, backed by the West, and contrasted Catalonia, which is being hung out to dry.

Why not hold a state sponsored referendum, and was done in Scotland? It would be more honest than what we see now.

Correct. The Spanish government is planning to hold regional elections in Catalonia in January, legal and free from intimidation. The separatists do not want this. They want to seize the opportunity now even though they do not have a legal, clear mandate and, probably, do not represent the will of the majority of the population. First regional elections to decide exactly who represents the people. If the separatists do win then they have every right to demand changes to the Spanish Constitution so that a full State agreed referendum can take place.

+4 #3 Peter Booker 2017-10-20 09:46

"And who defends the 50% who want to stay part of Spain. They have a "will" as well."

As President Putin has said, the West has a double standard when talking of democracy and independence. He quoted the cases of Kosovo and Crimea, backed by the West, and contrasted Catalonia, which is being hung out to dry.

Why not hold a state sponsored referendum, and was done in Scotland? It would be more honest than what we see now.

0 #2 Plain Speaking 2017-10-20 08:53

Quoting dw:

And so it becomes clear that the "state" (Spain in this case) is an economic construct of control, in which it is legitimate to constrain entire peoples by force against their will.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2017/10/spain-operating-way-beyond-democratic-legitimacy/

And who defends the 50% who want to stay part of Spain. They have a "will" as well.

+6 #1 dw 2017-10-20 00:10

And so it becomes clear that the "state" (Spain in this case) is an economic construct of control, in which it is legitimate to constrain entire peoples by force against their will.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2017/10/spain-operating-way-beyond-democratic-legitimacy/

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