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Catalonia: Madrid warns of Puigdemont jailing as thousands rally for unity Catalonia: Madrid warns of Puigdemont jailing as thousands rally for unity
(about 3 hours later)
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 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 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.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.
Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has fired Puigdemont and his government and called new regional elections for 21 December. 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 vote if the courts decide he should remain free until then.
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 that they would file charges of “rebellion” against Puigdemont, a crime punishable with up to 30 years in prison. “I don’t know what kind of judicial activity will happen between now and 21 December,” said Dastis. “If he is not put in jail at that time I think he is not ineligible.”
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 December election could be very close, with anti-independence parties winning 43.4% of the vote to pro-independence parties’ 42.5 %.
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 %. Dastis told Catalan separatists to “think twice” before rejecting the election as it “will be held according to the law. So the results will have to be respected afterwards.”
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. He did, however, hint that Catalonia could yet see negotiations over a new deal for the region. “I rule out full independence but not necessarily more autonomy, even if they are now already one of the regions with the highest powers and competences not only in Spain but in the world at large,” he said.
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. 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 this month drew similar numbers.
People with Spanish flags tied around their necks 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 rally, 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 December elections.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.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.”“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 the region’s sacked president, chanting: “Puigdemont to prison!”Some protesters shouted “viva España” while others vented their anger at the region’s sacked president, chanting: “Puigdemont to prison!”
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.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.
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.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.
“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. “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. “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.
“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.
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”.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”.
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.” On Saturday, Puigdemont 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 the Spanish constitution. Dastis dismissed such calls, saying any attempt by Puigdemont or his allies to continue in office this week would prove futile as regional civil servants would not heed their instructions.
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. “If he wants to live in a parallel universe he may go on, but nobody, I think, is going to obey him,” said Dastis. “No matter what he says, the central government is now in charge of Catalonia, although we have clearly decided we don’t want to be there for the long run.”
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. While the Spanish government has sacked the Catalan government and as many as 150 officials, it remains to be seen to what extent it will take over the running of the civil service, which includes about 200,000 employees in the administration, health and social services and education.
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. Employees of the Generalitat, the Catalan government, told the Guardian they had not received any instructions or warnings of the changes might lie ahead, although there had been some informal meetings by staff worried about the implications of article 155. Nor had anyone in the Barcelona provincial government department received official notification.School headteachers and inland revenue employees also said they had not received any notifications.
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. In an open letter to all the police stationed in Catalonia – including the regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra – Spain’s interior minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, reminded all officers they had a duty to “obey orders, guarantee the rights of all, and fulfil the mandates” of both the Spanish constitution and the region’s statue.
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. It is unclear whether Madrid plans to micromanage Catalonia or if it will let it run itself for the 53 days that remain before the election and, presumably, the resumption of regional autonomy.
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. As the Spanish government prepared to implement its strategy, Belgium’s immigration minister incurred Madrid’s wrath by suggesting that Puigdemont could be offered asylum in the country.
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. “It’s not unrealistic, looking at the current situation,” Theo Francken, a member of the Flemish separatist N-VA party, told the Flemish-language broadcaster VTM on Saturday. “Looking at the repression by Madrid and the jail sentences that are being proposed, the question can be asked whether he still has the chance for an honest court hearing.”
Belgium’s prime minister, Charles Michel, later clarified that an asylum request from Puigdemont was “absolutely not on the agenda”, while a spokesman for Rajoy’s People’s party described Francken’s remarks as “unacceptable” and said the Belgian minister had levelled “serious accusations against Spain’s legal system” that required an immediate correction.