Spain's conservative government set to nationalize Catalan police

[Eloy]

The conservative Spanish government has not denied a leaked secret plan for the Catalan police, Mossos d'Esquadra, to be removed from autonomic authority and nationalized by the Madrid government in a measure to stop a referendum on Catalan independence this autumn. The Spanish prime minister, strongman Mariano Rajoy, has learned nothing from previous attempts to be heavy handed with the Basques and seems ready to act tough instead of recognizing the aspirations of the Catalan nation and not interfering with the referendum.

New graduates of Mossos d'Esquadra may become policia nacional if Catalonia attempts a referendum later this year

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "S-o-o-o, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is not still dead after all...

Ghost of Franco Haunting Spain
October 01, 2017 - They emerged early Sunday with helmets, masks and flak jackets from temporary overnight accommodation, cheap boarding houses and chartered cruise ships painted with huge Warner Bros. cartoon figures, Tweetie Pie and Daffy Duck, docked at Barcelona’s port. But as the day unfolded, Barcelona was far from being Disney World.

Soon after polling stations opened, police, many drafted from outside Catalonia, moved in under orders from the national government in Madrid to block an independence referendum they and the country’s constitutional court said is illegal under the 1978 constitution that declares Spain indivisible. For Catalan separatists, Spain’s current constitution isn't free of the stamp of the former dictator Gen. Francisco Franco, who ruled the country for 40 years. They say underlining the constitution is a shameful, purposeful amnesia, one that ignores the suffering of Catalonia during the brutal 1930s civil war and the suppression of the Catalan language during Franco’s 40-year-long dictatorship. The ghost of Franco was never far from Sunday’s illegal referendum.

Spanish riot police swings a club against would-be voters near a school assigned to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona​

Some of the extra police drafted into Spain’s restive north-east region had been cheered as they traveled to Catalonia by rightwing Spanish nationalists waving the national flag and chanting provocatively, “Viva Franco.” Sunday was a far cry from the unity and comradeship Spain presented to the world in August when Spaniards and Catalans mourned together the 13 killed and 100 injured when jihadists struck Barcelona. As a gray, wet Sunday unfolded and the police mounted a speedy show of force in the Catalan capital, firing rubber bullets and wielding batons at people lining up to cast their ballots, besieging polling stations, seizing ballot boxes and removing officials overseeing the illegal vote, Catalan separatists accused them of acting like Franco.

Some analysts feared Mariano Rajoy's center-right national government was being maneuvered cleverly by the separatists into overreacting. They argued before the vote that Madrid should just ignore a referendum that has no legal standing. They will point to Sunday’s events as confirming what they feared might happen. As a gray, wet Sunday unfolded and the police mounted a speedy show of force in the Catalan capital, firing rubber bullets and wielding batons at people lining up to cast their ballots, besieging polling stations, seizing ballot boxes and removing officials overseeing the illegal vote, Catalan separatists accused them of acting like Franco.

People queue to vote at a school listed to be a polling station by the Catalan government in Barcelona, Spain​

Some analysts feared Mariano Rajoy's center-right national government was being maneuvered cleverly by the separatists into overreacting. They argued before the vote that Madrid should just ignore a referendum that has no legal standing. They will point to Sunday’s events as confirming what they feared might happen. As dawn broke Sunday more people gathered at designated polling stations. “Votarem, votarem!” - (“We will vote!”) they chanted. “It is pretty exciting,” said pro-separatist activist Jordi Gali outside a voting center in downtown Barcelona. “So many people are united with one idea in common,” he added. Within two hours of the polls opening, Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull announced that 73 percent of polling stations were functioning, but added, “there are constant attacks on the computer system.” The Spanish government disputed the claim, saying most designated polling stations had been shuttered.

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[waltky]

Thought Juan Carlos was King of Spain?...

Spanish court bans Catalan parliament from meeting, declaring independence
Oct. 5, 2017 -- The Spanish Constitutional Court banned the Catalan parliament from meeting next week to stop the region from declaring independence.

The ban comes after Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said he would declare independence from the rest of Spain "in a matter of days" following the final referendum vote count. In the referendum this weekend, the Catalan government said, around 2 million of the 2.3 million votes cast backed secession. More than 5 million Catalonians were eligible to vote, but the Spanish government ordered police to raid polling places and seize voting supplies.
The injunction was made after the court unanimously voted to hear an objection to the Parliamentary meeting filed earlier today by the Catalan Socialist party. The court, made up of 12 magistrates, is headed by Juan José González Rivas, who is part of the same political part y as Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The parliament meeting on Oct. 9 was expected to be Puigdemont's official call for Catalonia's independence. The ban casts doubt on whether Catalonia will be able to successfully secede from Spain.

Spain's high court suspended Catalan's parliament session next week in an effort to halt a push for independence from Catalonia's president Carles Puigdemont.​

Spain's Constitutional Court justified the ban by calling the move to declare independence "a breach of the constitution," as have other Spanish government officials including King Felipe VI. "It is the responsibility of the legitimate powers of the state to ensure constitutional order and the normal functioning of our institutions, the validity of the state of law and self-government in Catalonia," Felipe said in a speech Wednesday.

Spanish court bans Catalan parliament from meeting, declaring independence

See also:

Spanish court to investigate Catalan officials after King's anti-separatist speech
Oct. 4, 2017 -- Spain's high court launched an investigation against Catalan officials Wednesday after King Felipe VI of Spain accused separatists of division.

The investigation will be against Catalan police and organizers who are accused of inciting a rebellion against the state as tensions between the Spanish government and Catalan separatists continue to grow. King Felipe reprimanded the Catalonians in a rare national address Tuesday, calling this weekend's independence referendum "illegal" and accusing Catalan authorities of "eroding the harmony and coexistence within Catalan society." "They have sought to shatter the unity of Spain and national sovereignty, which is the right of all Spaniards to decide democratically on their life together," Felipe said. "It is the responsibility of the legitimate powers of the state to ensure constitutional order and the normal functioning of our institutions, the validity of the state of law and self-government in Catalonia."

Spanish King Felipe VI gave a rare televised speech calling the Catalonian independence vote illegal and accusing Catalan officials of bringing disunity and disloyalty to Spain.​

Catalonia's leader, Carles Puigdemont, announced just before the speech plans to declare independence from Spain within 48 hours after the vote results are counted. The 49-year-old monarch, however, insisted that Spain would remain united. "On this path -- in this better Spain that we all wish for -- Catalonia will also be there."

Felipe's speech comes days after Catalan authorities revealed that of the 2.3 million people who voted Sunday, 90 percent were in favor of independence. However, only half of those eligible to vote cast a ballot. Tensions escalated at voting centers when clashes ensued between police and separatist voters. A general strike was called for by Catalan officials on Tuesday to protest the violence.

Spanish court to investigate Catalan officials after King's anti-separatist speech

 

[Tommy Tainant]

Apparently many of the pro unity protestors were bussed in.
That Mythical Pro-Spanish Majority in Catalonia - Craig Murray

They need to have a proper ballot and Madrid needs to realise there is no future without one.

If your wife wants to leave you then you dont lock her up in the attic. Well you can but it just makes her more angry.

 

[waltky]

Dem Cats hath got to go...

Catalan independence: Spain pushes to remove leaders
Sat, 21 Oct 2017 - Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says the Catalan parliament's powers will be curbed and elections held.

The Spanish prime minister has outlined plans to remove Catalonia's leaders, but not dissolve the parliament of the semi-autonomous region. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said after an emergency cabinet meeting that the government intended to hold regional elections as soon as possible. The measures put forward by the cabinet now go to a vote by Spain's Senate.

Catalonia's independence referendum has thrown the country into crisis​

They come almost three weeks after Catalonia held a disputed independence referendum. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has ignored pleas from the national government to abandon his independence campaign. Mr Rajoy said the government had no choice in seeking to impose direct rule, arguing that the Catalan government's actions were "contrary to the law and seeking confrontation".

How did we get here?

Catalonia's regional government held a referendum on 1 October to ask residents of the region if they wanted to break away from Spain. Of the 43% of Catalans said to have taken part, 90% voted in favour of independence. But many anti-independence supporters boycotted the ballot, arguing it was not valid.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is meeting with his cabinet on Saturday​

Mr Puigdemont and other regional leaders then signed a declaration of independence, but immediately suspended it in order to allow for talks. He then defied two deadlines set by the national government to clarify Catalonia's position, and the government announced it would pursue Article 155.

What is Article 155?

See also:

Catalonia is an essential part of Spain, says King Felipe
October 20 2017 - Spain's King Felipe VI has spoken out forcefully against Catalonia's independence drive, saying all Spaniards must respect each other and the law.

At a prize-giving ceremony in northern Spain for the prestigious Princess of Asturias awards, Felipe said in a speech that everyone must respect the Constitution and the principles of parliamentary democracy. Spain's Constitutional Court has said Catalonia's recent referendum on secession was illegal, and the Spanish parliament has rejected the Catalan regional government's attempts to break away. Felipe said that Catalonia "is and will be an essential part" of Spain, receiving a standing ovation in the city of Oviedo.

Earlier Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy said his government will announce specific measures on Saturday to take control of the Catalonia region, now that an agreement has been reached with the country's main opposition parties. Mr Rajoy refused to confirm if the agreement with the Socialists includes plans to hold regional elections in Catalonia in January, as announced by the party's negotiator earlier. His government also reached agreement with the centre-right, pro-business Ciudadanos (Citizens) party.

Mr Rajoy, commenting on the unprecedented constitutional step he is taking to assume control of Catalonia, said: "The goal is double: the return to legality, and the recovery of institutional normalcy." The prime minister said the Catalan crisis was only discussed on the sidelines of a European leaders' summit because the political deadlock is an internal Spanish affair. But he said his fellow leaders share his concern that Catalan separatist authorities have acted against the rule of law and democracy.

The main negotiator for the opposition Socialist party, Carmen Calvo, said earlier that a snap election in the prosperous region had been agreed upon as part of the Socialists' support for government efforts to rein in the crisis. The move is likely to further inflame tensions between Spain and Catalan pro-independence activists. Catalonia's government said it has the mandate to secede from Spain after an illegal referendum was held on October 1, and it does not want a new regional election.

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[waltky]

Catalan leader in Belgium to appeal to EU...

Catalan leader in Belgium to make independence case to EU
Oct. 31, 2017 -- Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, charged with sedition, said in Brussels on Tuesday that he will not return to Spain unless a fair trial is guaranteed.

In his first press conference since he fled Spain after his breakaway Catalonia region declared independence, Puigdemont added he would not seek asylum in Belgium. He added that he and several Catalonian ministers were in Brussels to present Catalonia's case to the European Union. Restive Catalonia held a non-binding referendum on Oct. 1 in which 90 percent of voters chose independence. The Spanish government regarded the referendum as illegal, and ousted Puigdemont from Catalan government on Friday, the day the Catalan parliament declared a republic. Spain's top prosecutor filed a sedition charge against Puigdemont on Monday, and Puigdemont said he expects a trial to be unfair and biased.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, R, talks with vice president Oriol Junqueros, L, on Oct. 27 in Catalan parliament in Barcelona. Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Puigdemont said he was in Belgium to make Catalonia's case to the European Union and is not in search of asylum.​

Catalonia, its parliament and government formally dissolved, is now under direct Spanish rule, with the national government in Madrid now administering the region's affairs. A new regional election, to be held on Dec. 21 and approved by Puigdemont, has been called. In Brussels, Puigdemont said he would not accept violence as the price of independence, adding that he will not "pit my citizens against a wave of violence. We want to continue working as a government. We have before us a state [Spain] that only understands the reasoning of force to make us abandon our political project," he said. "The republic cannot be built on violence." He added that he would stay in Brussels until he is insured a fair process, for his trial and for Catalonia's future. "Then we would return immediately."

On Monday it was announced that Paul Bekaert was hired to provide legal advice to Puigdemont. Bekaert has a background in human rights cases and worked on numerous cases to stop the extradition to Spain of ETA members. The ETA, a Basque separatist group active in Spain in the 1990s, scattered to southern France and Belgium after cooperation between Spanish and French counterterrorism cooperation. "I have more than 30 years' experience in extradition and political asylum of Basque citizens, and that is probably why Puigdemont has called me," Bakaert said.

Catalan leader in Belgium to make independence case to EU

 

[montelatici]

Rajoy projecting Franco.