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Protests as Spanish king makes key visit to Catalonia Protests greet Spanish king in secession-focused Catalonia
(about 4 hours later)
BARCELONA, Spain — About 2,000 protesters wielding Catalan pro-independence symbols and some Spanish republican flags are banging kitchen pots and blocking access to a Barcelona venue where the Spanish royal family is attending an award ceremony. BARCELONA, Spain — Violence and the disparaging of others have no place in the dispute over Catalonia’s independence, Spanish King Felipe VI said during a visit with his family to the northeastern region Monday that was greeted with widespread protests.
Some of the guests at the Princess of Girona Awards for young talent have been unable to enter on time the conference center in the Catalan regional capital, which had been guarded heavily by police. The Spanish monarch has long been the target of fierce criticism by separatists. His speech two years ago calling for Spanish unity after police violently cracked down on those who tried to cast votes in a banned independence referendum angered many and fueled republican sentiment.
The protesters are chanting “Go Away!” to King Felipe VI and his family, burning pictures of the Spanish monarch. Monday’s royal visit was the first since the imprisonment of nine politicians and activists who led the 2017 drive for secession, a ruling that has been met with massive protests this month that have turned unusually violent at times. More than 500 have been injured in the riots, roughly half of them police officers, and dozens have been arrested.
The heir, 14-year-old Princess Leonor, was expected to deliver a short speech at Monday’s ceremony. About 2,000 protesters wielding Spanish republican flags and pro-independence symbols banged kitchen pots and blocked access to the Barcelona venue where Felipe and other members of the Spanish royal family attended an award ceremony.
Tensions over roughly half of Catalonia’s strong desire to secede from Spain have become the main political theme for voters in the country’s general election on Sunday. Some of the guests at the Princess of Girona Awards for young talent were unable to enter the conference center on time. Surrounded by police in anti-riot gear, the protesters chanted “Go Away!” and burned pictures of the Spanish monarch.
Inside, the king, Queen Letizia and the couple’s two daughters, princesses Leonor and Sofia, were greeted with enthusiastic applause. Addressing the auditorium in the region’s Catalan language, Felipe said: “In today’s reality there can’t be room for violence, intolerance or contempt for the rights of others.”
The heir to the Spanish throne, 14-year-old Princess Leonor, also made her Catalan-speaking debut at the ceremony, adding that “Catalonia will always have a special place in my heart.” It was Leonor’s second public speech.
Roughly half of the people of Catalonia are in favor of seceding from Spain, according to official surveys and recent election results. The issue will dominate the country’s general election on Sunday, when voters elect lawmakers to the next parliament, which will in turn choose Spain’s next prime minister.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.