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Thousands join Barcelona rally against Catalan independence Catalonia: Madrid warns of Puigdemont jailing as thousands rally for unity
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of thousands have gathered in central Barcelona to call for Spanish unity two days after the Catalan parliament voted for independence and the Spanish government took control of the region. The Spanish government has said the deposed Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, could be jailed within the next two months over his part in the regional parliament’s unilateral declaration of independence.
The demonstration on Sunday, which began at 12 noon local time, was convened by the anti-independence group Societat Civil Catalana, which organised an event earlier this month that was attended by similar numbers. The warning came on Sunday afternoon as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Barcelona to call for Spanish unity two days after some Catalan MPs voted for independence and the Spanish government assumed control of the region.
People with Spanish flags tied around their necks headed towards the Passeig de Gràcia, one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares. Others carried white banners with the flags of Catalonia, Spain and the EU surrounded by a heart. Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has fired Puigdemont and his government and called new regional elections for 21 December.
In an interview with the Associated Press, the country’s foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, said Puigdemont could “theoretically” run for re-election in the December polls “if he is not put in jail at that time”.
Spanish prosecutors said on Friday evening that they would file charges of “rebellion” against Puigdemont, a crime punishable with up to 30 years in prison.
According to a poll for El Mundo, the election would be very close, with anti-independence parties winning 43.4% of the vote to pro-independence parties’ 42.5 %.
Sunday’s demonstration, which was convened by the anti-independence group Societat Civil Catalana, saw a huge crowd mass in central Barcelona. Organisers put attendance at 1.3 million, while the city’s police said 300,000 turned out. Another pro-unity protest earlier this month drew similar numbers.
People with Spanish flags tied around their necks headed congregated on the Passeig de Gràcia, one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares. Others carried white banners with the flags of Catalonia, Spain and the EU surrounded by a heart.
The event’s slogan was “We are all Catalonia. Common sense for co-existence” and drew people from the region and beyond as well as members of the Spanish government and pro-unity Catalan MPs.The event’s slogan was “We are all Catalonia. Common sense for co-existence” and drew people from the region and beyond as well as members of the Spanish government and pro-unity Catalan MPs.
Speaking shortly before the march, Inés Arrimadas of the Citizens party, said: “The silent majority of Catalans are once again taking to the street to show that the majority of Catalans feel Catalan, Spanish and European.”Speaking shortly before the march, Inés Arrimadas of the Citizens party, said: “The silent majority of Catalans are once again taking to the street to show that the majority of Catalans feel Catalan, Spanish and European.”
Arrimadas said the time had come to “restore Catalonia’s institutions” and prepare for the regional elections called by the Spanish government for 21 December. Arrimadas said the time had come to “restore Catalonia’s institutions” and prepare for the December elections.
Juan Montalvo, 65, a retiree from Mataró, a town 30km from Barcelona, had travelled to the protest with his 29-year-old son Roger. “We’ve come to give our opinion and show that part of Catalonia feels Spanish as well,” he said. “Catalan society is divided. We need to achieve more unity, but also to show [pro-independence Catalans] that we are 50% and they need to respect us like we need to respect them.” Juan Montalvo, 65, a retiree from Mataró, a town 30km from Barcelona, had travelled to the protest with his 29-year-old son Roger.
“We’ve come to give our opinion and show that part of Catalonia feels Spanish as well,” he said. “Catalan society is divided. We need to achieve more unity, but also to show [pro-independence Catalans] that we are 50% and they need to respect us like we need to respect them.”
Montalvo, who was born in Extremadura, said he felt increasingly like a Spanish immigrant even though he speaks Catalan and is married to a woman from the region. His son added: “I feel Catalan, but for me that means being Catalan inside a Spanish state.”Montalvo, who was born in Extremadura, said he felt increasingly like a Spanish immigrant even though he speaks Catalan and is married to a woman from the region. His son added: “I feel Catalan, but for me that means being Catalan inside a Spanish state.”
Some protesters shouted “viva España” while others vented their anger at Carles Puigdemont, who was fired as Catalan president by the Spanish government on Friday night, chanting: “Puigdemont to prison!” Some protesters shouted “viva España” while others vented their anger at the region’s sacked president, chanting: “Puigdemont to prison!”
On Sunday afternoon, Spain’s foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, told Associated Press that Puigdemont could “theoretically” run for re-election in the December polls “if he is not put in jail at that time”. Despite the Spanish government’s unprecedented use of article 155 of the country’s constitution to take control of Catalonia’s civil service, police, finances and public media, some pro-independence politicians have refused to recognise the measures.
Two days earlier, Spanish prosecutors said they would file charges of “rebellion” against Puigdemont, a crime punishable with up to 30 years in prison. Writing in the Catalan newspaper El Punt Avui on Sunday, Oriol Junqueras, the vice-president of the deposed Catalan government, accused Rajoy’s ruling People’s party (PP) of overthrowing regional democracy.
Madrid claimed direct control of Catalonia for the first time in nearly four decades on Saturday, sacking the regional government and police chief after the declaration of independence. But the deposed Catalan leader immediately vowed there would be peaceful resistance to the takeover. “We cannot recognise the coup d’état against Catalonia, nor any of the anti-democratic decisions that the PP is adopting by remote control from Madrid,” he said.
Hours after the Spanish government formally announced his dismissal and the replacement of his entire cabinet by counterparts hundreds of miles away, Puigdemont put on an ostentatious display of normality with lunch at a restaurant in the centre of his home city, Girona. “The president of the country is and will continue to be Carles Puigdemont … at least until the day the citizens do not decide otherwise in a free election.
As he toasted friends with red wine, posed for pictures with supporters and enjoyed the applause of fellow diners, broadcast live on national TV, a pre-recorded video message went out promising to continue to work “to build a free nation”. However, Junqueras also said that decisions would have to be made over the coming days that “won’t be easy to understand”, adding that the independence movement would push onwards “without ever giving up ballot boxes to validate the republic”.
“We must do so resisting repression and threats, without ever abandoning, at any time, civic and peaceful conduct,” he said, adding that his government did not have or want “the argument of force”. On Saturday, Puigdemont called for a peaceful response to the imposition of direct rule. In a pre-recorded video message, he said efforts would continue “to build a free nation”, adding: “We must do so resisting repression and threats, without ever abandoning, at any time, civic and peaceful conduct.”
The Catalan republic that was declared on Friday is not legal under current Spanish law. As well as removing Puigdemont’s existing powers, Madrid dissolved the Catalan parliament that declared independence and called new elections for 21 December, the earliest possible date. The Catalan republic that was declared on Friday is not legal under the Spanish constitution.
Spain’s deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, who has managed the government’s response to the Catalan crisis, has been appointed to run Catalonia on a day-to-day basis until then. But the string of government orders published on Saturday morning provide only the outline for Madrid’s takeover. The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, now faces the challenge of implementing it. Spain’s deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, who has managed the government’s response to the Catalan crisis, has been appointed to run Catalonia on a day-to-day basis until then.
The region has been officially self-governing since its statute of autonomy was signed in 1979, as Spain returned to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. Many of the thousands of supporters of independence who were weeping and celebrating on the streets of Barcelona and other towns on Friday had pledged peaceful resistance to Madrid’s orders even before Puigdemont’s carefully worded call for resistance. But the string of government orders published on Saturday morning provide only the outline for Madrid’s takeover and Rajoy now faces the challenge of implementing it.
The region has been officially self-governing since its statute of autonomy was signed in 1979, as Spain returned to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.
Many of the thousands of supporters of independence who were weeping and celebrating on the streets of Barcelona and other towns on Friday had pledged peaceful resistance to Madrid’s orders even before Puigdemont’s carefully worded call for resistance.
Activists have offered to form human chains around buildings to protect officials, some of whom are expected to face arrest and possible jail sentences for their role in both the referendum and the declaration of independence that followed.Activists have offered to form human chains around buildings to protect officials, some of whom are expected to face arrest and possible jail sentences for their role in both the referendum and the declaration of independence that followed.
Some of the region’s 200,000 civil servants have said they will not accept orders from Madrid and one Catalan union has also called a 10-day strike starting tomorrow in support of the new republic, although larger groups have not joined them.Some of the region’s 200,000 civil servants have said they will not accept orders from Madrid and one Catalan union has also called a 10-day strike starting tomorrow in support of the new republic, although larger groups have not joined them.
Josep Lluís Trapero, head of the regional Mossos d’Esquadra police, who won praise for his response to the August terrorist attacks, has been the only senior official to say he will comply with Madrid, accepting a demotion to commissar.Josep Lluís Trapero, head of the regional Mossos d’Esquadra police, who won praise for his response to the August terrorist attacks, has been the only senior official to say he will comply with Madrid, accepting a demotion to commissar.