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| Catalonia Protesters, Slipping the Reins of Jailed Leaders, Grow More Radicalized | Catalonia Protesters, Slipping the Reins of Jailed Leaders, Grow More Radicalized |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BARCELONA, Spain — The conflict with the restive northeastern region of Catalonia has entered a “new phase” with the sentencing of its former separatist leaders to prison this week, said Spain’s caretaker prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. | |
| By Friday, it was clear that phase had indeed begun, but not in the way that Mr. Sánchez had in mind. | By Friday, it was clear that phase had indeed begun, but not in the way that Mr. Sánchez had in mind. |
| The violence on the streets of Barcelona and other Catalan cities since the Spanish Supreme Court ruling on Monday has raised fears that Catalonia’s separatist politicians are now losing control over their supporters, some of them growing increasingly radicalized. | The violence on the streets of Barcelona and other Catalan cities since the Spanish Supreme Court ruling on Monday has raised fears that Catalonia’s separatist politicians are now losing control over their supporters, some of them growing increasingly radicalized. |
| On Friday, the Catalan independence movement delivered a new show of force in Barcelona. Five columns of separatist protesters marched from different parts of the region into the city amid a general strike. Friday afternoon’s demonstration drew about 525,000 people, according to local police. | |
| The large rally followed days of unrest in Barcelona and other Catalan cities to protest the jailing of nine separatist leaders over a failed bid to break away from Spain in 2017. The Socialist government of Mr. Sánchez has vowed to end the turmoil after protesters clashed with the police and set fires in the streets of Barcelona and other cities for four nights. | |
| Video footage online showed protesters chanting, “Freedom for political prisoners!” outside the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, forcing the temporary closure of the basilica, which is one of the most emblematic and visited sites in Spain. The Catholic Church authorities said protesters had blocked the entrance, which meant access could no longer be guaranteed. | Video footage online showed protesters chanting, “Freedom for political prisoners!” outside the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, forcing the temporary closure of the basilica, which is one of the most emblematic and visited sites in Spain. The Catholic Church authorities said protesters had blocked the entrance, which meant access could no longer be guaranteed. |
| On Friday, protesters disrupted the region’s transportation network, adding to the impact of a strike that had already forced the cancellation of many commuter trains and buses. They also erected barricades along major roads, including the main highway to France. | |
| The general strike, however, was a mitigated success for the independence movement, with the authorities reporting that less than half of government employees had heeded the call to stay away from work. | |
| Some of the main labor unions had refused to join the strike, arguing that it was driven by political ideology rather than justifiable economic complaints relating to labor conditions. | Some of the main labor unions had refused to join the strike, arguing that it was driven by political ideology rather than justifiable economic complaints relating to labor conditions. |
| Working in tandem, the Spanish national police and the Catalan autonomous police have arrested several militants for violence over the past week, some of whom were then denied bail after appearing before a judge. | Working in tandem, the Spanish national police and the Catalan autonomous police have arrested several militants for violence over the past week, some of whom were then denied bail after appearing before a judge. |
| On Friday, Spain’s national court also ordered the closure of a website run by Tsunami Democratic, a mysterious organization that is being investigated for suspected terrorism. It coordinated an attempt on Monday to shut down Barcelona’s airport. In the end, airlines canceled more than 100 flights that day. | |
| The airport intervention appeared to be a copycat of the occupation of Hong Kong’s airport in August. Tsunami Democratic has also used language similar to that of the Hong Kong protesters, talking about its members adding up like drops of water. | The airport intervention appeared to be a copycat of the occupation of Hong Kong’s airport in August. Tsunami Democratic has also used language similar to that of the Hong Kong protesters, talking about its members adding up like drops of water. |
| Most of the separatist politicians have condemned the violence this week, among them Oriol Junqueras, the region’s former deputy leader who got the toughest sentence of 13 years in prison. | Most of the separatist politicians have condemned the violence this week, among them Oriol Junqueras, the region’s former deputy leader who got the toughest sentence of 13 years in prison. |
| The court ruling has also been increasing tensions within the fragile coalition of separatist parties that have held most of the seats in the Catalan regional parliament since 2015 without ever winning an election with an absolute majority. | The court ruling has also been increasing tensions within the fragile coalition of separatist parties that have held most of the seats in the Catalan regional parliament since 2015 without ever winning an election with an absolute majority. |
| On Thursday, Quim Torra, the leader of Catalonia, told the regional Parliament that he would organize a new independence referendum and draft a constitution for a Catalan republic. But separatist politicians from other parties immediately distanced themselves from his project. | On Thursday, Quim Torra, the leader of Catalonia, told the regional Parliament that he would organize a new independence referendum and draft a constitution for a Catalan republic. But separatist politicians from other parties immediately distanced themselves from his project. |
| In the Spanish capital Madrid, the latest unrest in Catalonia is exacerbating political tensions and overshadowing campaigning ahead of a repeat national election on Nov. 11. Mr. Sánchez and his Socialist party have been leading in the opinion polls, but further unrest in Catalonia could help swing voters. | In the Spanish capital Madrid, the latest unrest in Catalonia is exacerbating political tensions and overshadowing campaigning ahead of a repeat national election on Nov. 11. Mr. Sánchez and his Socialist party have been leading in the opinion polls, but further unrest in Catalonia could help swing voters. |
| Since Monday, the Socialist government has been calling on Mr. Torra to condemn more forcefully acts of violence in Catalonia and also to demonstrate that he and other elected Catalan politicians are not supporting the new wave of militancy embodied by Tsunami Democratic. | Since Monday, the Socialist government has been calling on Mr. Torra to condemn more forcefully acts of violence in Catalonia and also to demonstrate that he and other elected Catalan politicians are not supporting the new wave of militancy embodied by Tsunami Democratic. |
| In the run-up to the national election, Mr. Sánchez is facing increasing pressure from opposition, center-right parties to use his emergency powers to restore order in Catalonia, possibly even imposing another period of direct rule from Madrid over Catalonia as happened in late 2017. | In the run-up to the national election, Mr. Sánchez is facing increasing pressure from opposition, center-right parties to use his emergency powers to restore order in Catalonia, possibly even imposing another period of direct rule from Madrid over Catalonia as happened in late 2017. |
| On Thursday, Mr. Sánchez told reporters that “moderation calms minds and this is what the government of Spain will do.” | On Thursday, Mr. Sánchez told reporters that “moderation calms minds and this is what the government of Spain will do.” |
| On Friday, however, Pablo Casado, the leader of the main opposition Popular Party, responded that Mr. Sánchez needed instead to act “with urgency” in Catalonia before the situation spiraled out of control. | On Friday, however, Pablo Casado, the leader of the main opposition Popular Party, responded that Mr. Sánchez needed instead to act “with urgency” in Catalonia before the situation spiraled out of control. |
| Some of the demonstrators who reached Barcelona around lunchtime Friday had left their hometowns as early as Wednesday. They marched into the city amid a festive atmosphere reminiscent of many of the big protests in recent years in Barcelona, and in contrast to several of the evening clashes earlier this week, when some hooded militants also threw Molotov cocktails at the police. However, by early evening, militants and police officers starting a fresh confrontation outside police headquarters, with officers charging against activists who were throwing flares, bottles and eggs. | |
| Separately on Friday, Carles Puigdemont, the former separatist leader of Catalonia, turned himself in to the authorities in Belgium after a Spanish judge issued a European arrest warrant this week. But he vowed to fight Spain’s latest attempt to extradite him and try him in Madrid. | Separately on Friday, Carles Puigdemont, the former separatist leader of Catalonia, turned himself in to the authorities in Belgium after a Spanish judge issued a European arrest warrant this week. But he vowed to fight Spain’s latest attempt to extradite him and try him in Madrid. |
| Mr. Puigdemont, who was not detained by prosecutors in Brussels on Friday, fled to Belgium in October 2017 when Madrid forced him from office. Since then, Mr. Puigdemont has successfully fought extradition from Belgium and Germany, where judges rejected a Spanish claim that he had led a rebellion. | Mr. Puigdemont, who was not detained by prosecutors in Brussels on Friday, fled to Belgium in October 2017 when Madrid forced him from office. Since then, Mr. Puigdemont has successfully fought extradition from Belgium and Germany, where judges rejected a Spanish claim that he had led a rebellion. |
| Spanish prosecutors now want Belgium to return Mr. Puigdemont to Spain to face trial on charges of sedition rather than rebellion. A Spanish judge issued a European arrest warrant for Mr. Puigdemont on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court sentenced the other Catalan former separatist leaders for sedition. They were given prison terms of nine to 13 years. | Spanish prosecutors now want Belgium to return Mr. Puigdemont to Spain to face trial on charges of sedition rather than rebellion. A Spanish judge issued a European arrest warrant for Mr. Puigdemont on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court sentenced the other Catalan former separatist leaders for sedition. They were given prison terms of nine to 13 years. |
| Three other separatist leaders were sentenced for the lesser crime of disobedience during the events two years ago. | Three other separatist leaders were sentenced for the lesser crime of disobedience during the events two years ago. |