UPDATE 27/10/17: What a difference a week makes! It’s been a mere seven days since our original post, but things have moved fast. It’s a very fluid situation in Catalonia, and yet there is little sign of a resolution being found anytime soon to the political deadlock gripping the region. Last Saturday, the Spanish Government did indeed announce special measures to restore central government control over Catalonia under Article 155 of the constitution. According to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the measures will “rescue the region’s autonomy, rather than suspending it”. They include the dismissal of the regional government and its leader, and the calling of elections in the next six months. Before coming into effect, these measures will first have to be approved by the Spanish Senate.

After initially indicating he would not appear before senators to defend his position, Carles Puigdemont, the leader of the Catalan Government, wrote to the Senate and called on them not to authorise his dismissal. Yesterday evening, in a long-awaited and much-postponed press conference, Mr. Puigdemont confirmed rumours that he had been considered a snap election, but he had not been offered sufficient guaranties that this would prevent the application of Article 155. This has led him to rule out the possibility of early elections, leaving the issue in the hands of the Catalan Parliament.

Finally, both the Parliament of Catalonia and the Spanish Senate are set to reconvene again today. For the former, all options are on the table, including unilaterally declaring independence; while the later will vote on triggering Article 155. For the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party there is still time for Mr. Puigdemont to reverse his decision and call early elections (the party has even presented an amendment stipulating the suspension of the Article 155 special measures if this happens), but the window of opportunity is clearly closing, putting Spain hours away from a potentially historic moment.

How can both sides break through the chaos and confusion and get a handle on what is happening? Will independence be declared today? Or will it be once again postponed? Is there anything the Spanish Government can do to prevent the birth of the “Republic of Catalonia”?

ORIGINAL 20/10/2017: Where now for Catalonia? It seems the space for dialogue between Mr. Rajoy, President of the Spanish Government, and Mr. Puigdemont, President of Catalonia’s Generalitat, is rapidly vanishing. Even EU leaders agree there is no place for EU-mediated talks, as they reiterated their support for the Spanish government during a summit in Brussels.

After several missed deadlines for Catalonia’s leader to clarify whether or not it has declared unilateral independence, the Spanish government is now all set to activate Article 155 of the constitution and suspend the region’s autonomy. The process could take another week, as it will first need to be discussed and voted on in the Spanish Senate. Over 80% of senators are expected to vote in favour (including members of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party and the ‘Citizens’ party), while Podemos and the Basque Nationalist Party are likely to vote against it.

Article 155 has never been invoked before, and the Spanish authorities are very much moving into “uncharted territory“. The application of special measures is expected to be brief and limited. These could range from taking over control of finances and regional policing (Josep Lluis Trapero, chief of the autonomous police force of Catalonia, is already under investigation for sedition) to calling regional elections in Catalonia, aimed to be held in January 2018.

In response, the Catalan president has threatened to unequivocally declare independence if Madrid moves to suspend autonomy. All of this while more companies and banks are moving their offices from the region and the growth forecast for the whole of Spain, not just Catalonia, is plunging.

Will suspending Catalonia’s autonomy help resolve the crisis? Or will it escalate things? How can space be built for compromise and dialogue? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!

IMAGE CREDITS: (c) BigStockPhoto – Dinogeromella


214 comments Post a commentcomment

What do YOU think?

  1. avatar
    Guillem M. Guimet

    Rajoy: “This is the idea: we control judges and the media, use the Law as we please, repress those who protest, ignore those who ask for dialog, and rule on Catalonia without being elected. And if it works, we do it with everything.”
    Franco: “But, it will look like a dictatorship!”
    Rajoy: “Ha Ha! No, man. Much better than that: It will look like a democracy!”

    • avatar
      Ether Traveler

      True satire!
      But seriously:
      Where comes that strong feeling of Catalonian Autonomy from when all what people of the world need is Global Unification. And that IN Truth and only the #Truth?
      Think about. 🤔

    • avatar
      Guillem M. Guimet

      We can be united in our diversity. Simple as that.

    • avatar
      Pedro Castro

      Afraid of regional elections? Those where each person get 1 vote only?

    • avatar
      Guillem M. Guimet

      Not at all. Pro-Catalonia parties have won ever since we have elections.

    • avatar
      Tarquin Farquhar

      @Ether Traveler
      A ‘global world’ = ‘prison plane’t!

    • avatar
      Margarita G. Soto

      Spain is an State of Law. You are lying and you Know it. You enjoy freedom like never before. And you and people like you are hurting very badly Cataluña specially.

    • avatar
      jane tse

      This is not about dictatorship but the rule of law, the very essence of a democracy. It is not about dictatorship but the sovereign power of the state. It is also about the Constitution which is the supreme law. It is also about the power of the Constitutional Court which is the sole source to interpret the Constitution. It is through this way a democracy is governed.

    • avatar
      Jane Tse

      As all democracies and contemporary states, law and order of Spain is written in the Constitution. Judges would naturally based on the Constitution for judgment. Try to respect the Constitution and the judicial system. Spain is not an anarchy.

  2. avatar
    Chukwunonso Odidika

    Self determination is a fundamental right….
    The outcome of such undemocratic steps by Spanish government will be Olympia Utopia for them.

    • avatar
      Margarita G. Soto

      Self determination of a region that has belong to Spain for more then 500 years? What are you talking about? What rights are you considering? What about of the rest of the country that du not want to loos a part of the country’s territory?

    • avatar
      jane tse

      Human rights should not be exaggerated. If laws are submitted to individual desires, democracy would become an anarchy.

  3. avatar
    Eduardo Santamaria

    It is not the best solution but at this point is the only one. When someone just decides to break the law and implements illegal procedures the goverment must take this tough decission.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      I do not like to see a centralist spaniard with a facebook cover with my capital on it. It gives me shivers down my spine.

      “De Espanha, nem bom vento, nem bom casamento.”

    • avatar
      Gioacchino Giorgio Nastasi

      Right.

    • avatar
      Eduardo Santamaria

      José Bessa da Silva Sorry to bothering you but defending our constitution it´s not centralism. Spain is more decentralized state than many other European countries including Portugal.
      Gosto da su lingua e gosto musitissimo do seu pais e por iso que tenho o padrão dos decobrimentos como a minha foto no Facebook.

      Our government gave several opportunities to Catalonia to change its path and enter again in the constitutional way but Catalonian government refuses all these opportunities then our only way it´s to implement the law.

    • avatar
      Tarquin Farquhar

      @Eduardo Santamaria
      Your constitution is flawed – it does not allow a region the right to self-determination. If the law is flawed it deserves to be broken!

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Portugal is not decentralised state because the portuguese people decided not to in a referendum. Poor choice to compare a mere imperialistic state with a unitary nation.
      But since we are now comparing Portugal VS Spain, it is also good to remind that while Portugal garantees the right to independence and insurection in it’s constitution, Spain does not allow even a democratic referendum to be hold in Catalunya and instead decides to kill a man and injure 900 more by sending a militarized police to repress the voice of the people.

      Again, I don’t like to see a centralist spaniard with a facebook cover of my capital. Take your hands out. ;)

    • avatar
      Jaime Canet

      So you , José Bessa da Silva, are acting the same way that the nationalist catalan goverment does, as if Portugal was just yours to give or take, depending on whether the rest of the people think like you or not…

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Jaime, that comment is quite stupid and unrelated with what is going on in Catalunya and most certainly unrelated with what I said.

    • avatar
      Karolina

      That is the mantra of terrorists, Tarquin. The expectation is that either you abide by the laws of a certain society the benefits of living within which you are enjoying, or you remove yourself from it.

  4. avatar
    Yanis Sarto

    Saddly Catalan politicians have used their autonomy to undermine the constitution of the country their region belongs to . Suspension of it will make things worse and coexistence has already been badly hurt in this country but the catalan politicians share the biggest part of the blame for this fiasco than Madrid

    • avatar
      Gioacchino Giorgio Nastasi

      Catalan politicians are to blame because did not respect the Law..

    • avatar
      Nono Martínez Pascual

      Exactly. The crisis were invented and promoted by catalan separatist/supremacists. What the government is doint is to reset democracy there, forcing the Catalan President to leave, and making legal elections on January of next year

    • avatar
      Tarquin Farquhar

      @Eduardo Tomé
      Legality based on an immoral and flawed constitution!

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      There was elections already. Independentist parties have absolute majority in Generalitat.

    • avatar
      Pedro Castro

      We’ll see after january José Bessa da Silva.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      If they decide to accept newelections yes, we will ser. If on the contrary they carry on with Catalunya’s independence, then they have all the right. They were elected and held a referendum even though we all know how much it hurts in your undemocratic europhile butts.

    • avatar
      Pedro Castro

      Yes becouse as we all know that waste of paper you call a referendum was a paragon of democratic values where everyone could vote from anywhere, as many times as you wanted as long as the vote was yes…

      Calling other undemocratic would imply you knew how democracy works but aparently that’s not the case!

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      I’m sorry if I dismiss your comment about the validity of the results but well, after 1 dead and 900 injured by the militarized castilian police, it seems rather obvious where the democratic values were not coming from.

      Democracy literaly means “rule of people”. You need a dictionary if you think Madrid is a democratic state after 1-O.

    • avatar
      Pedro Castro

      Nice pack of RT fed lies… Out of those 900 people that were logged in hospitals 2 stayed overnight, 1 was a heartattack and the only thing that died was your objectivity.

      Concerning democracy and ignoring the translation from greek, it is defined by 2 key basic notions. The rule of law and the will of the people. Neither was secured in this case. A little study or a google search would have helped you.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      A lie is your ABC denial of the afican style repression carried in Catalunya.

      “Rule of Law” is all too beautiful by slavery was part of that “rule of law”. Also, said “Rule of Law” should be under people scrutiny. In the end it all comes back to the basics. There is nothing more democratic than allowing people to decide and that is exactly what Madrid does not want (nor does the EU). Now you can call me “populist” and all, but again, a dictionary would be a nice book for you.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      A lie is your ABC denial of the african style repression carried in Catalunya.

      “Rule of Law” is all too beautiful but slavery was part of that “rule of law”. Also, said “Rule of Law” should be under people scrutiny. In the end it all comes back to the basics. There is nothing more democratic than allowing people to decide and that is exactly what Madrid does not want (nor does the EU). Now you can call me “populist” and all, but again, a dictionary would be a nice book for you.

    • avatar
      Pedro Castro

      Rule of law is under people scrutiny. Law makers are voted by the people in legislative elections. That’s the point of them.

      Even constitutions can and are changed if there’s eneughf people willing. That’s democracy! Not the minority forcing illegal partial referenda but that matters little. Catalans will be able to do a legitimate vote in the regional elections and define exactly their intentions on a legal and comprehensive way dispite your populist interpretation!

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      “Law Makers”are voted by people…sometimes. The EC is not. Generalitat is a law making body, voted by the catalans and it did a law for the referendum. All legal and democratic then.
      Again, catalans already voted. The majority of the Generalitat is independentist because the catalans decided. Quite different is the fact that you anti-democratics don’t like the catalans choice.

  5. avatar
    Alexander Acosta Osorio

    It will not resolve the crisis, but the government would have done what it’s suppose to do. What happens after that is anybody’s guess.

  6. avatar
    Paul

    If you’re not prepared to talk. .the alternatives are less attractive !

  7. avatar
    catherine benning

    Will suspending Catalonia’s autonomy help resolve the crisis?

    Don’t be silly.

  8. avatar
    Victor CP

    The only solution will be to stop this nonsense. It is in the catalan government hand.

  9. avatar
    Daniel Martinez

    I would prefer that both governments (spanish and catalan) would resolve all this mess by using dialogue, instead of trying to use an unilateral independence (which is a nonsense) as well as trying to convince people to remain united by using only repressive methods (which is a nonsense as well).

    Ironically both governments claim for the need of a dialogue. However, their decisions and their acts show us that neither of them seems to be looking for a real dialogue.

  10. avatar
    Johnny Sintra

    No way… He just want to send a mesasge to Viscaya and Galiza but Catalonia is smarter than Madrid thinks and soon we’ll get some surprises…

    • avatar
      Panos Kontogiannis

      A referendum in Gibraltar will definitely show otherwise. Ever spoken to these people?

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      panos, i occupy one of ur island, i send ma people to that island, and then i do a referedum, what do u think, would u like that?

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      gibraltar is the problem numero 1 in iberia penisula, not “catalonia”

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      maybe u know our problems now, you watch TV-Soros propaganda. in iberia the only problem we have is gibraltar.

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      Bernardo Oliveira Santos sim e a occupaçao de olivença, esse assunto é entre os ibericos. olivença é unico territorio portugues occupado e administrado por uma potencia estrangeira. tb ilha terceira que ta occupada pelos EUA desde 1942.

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      justiça para o caso de olivença nao vai ter ajuda da propaganda mediatica e no entanto olivença é legalmente de portugal, nao tem de ter referendo em olivença, existe tratado que espanha nao se digna a comprir desde 1807.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Ibériocos? Mas que bosta é isso? O raio do suíço é lambe-botas de Madrid está visto. Vá para Madrid baixar as calçinhas…

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      josé estas a dizer que baixas as calças para bruxelas quando falas na EU. palhaço. povos europeus, existem igual aos povos ibericos. exepto que bruxelas manda em portugal e madrid nao manda em portugal. os teus amigos em bruxelas que causam os problemas e tu engoles o vomito de eles via propaganda dos journalistas por isso teu cerebro ta queimado e andas a fazer propaganda ao Soros e ajudar eles

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Da UE? Mas quem é que falou em UE? Eu até sou contra a UE.
      1- Não existe povo europeu, existem povos europes.
      2- Não existe povo ibéricos hoje em dia e no meu país nunca existiu.
      3- Volte para a Suíca que lá é o seu país.

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      José Bessa da Silva seu Lusofobico volta para o toilette e puxa o autoclismo

    • avatar
      Jean Charles Branco

      Lusofobia nao é bem vindo na minha terra, volta para a casa de banho e puxa o autoclismo e deixa o meu povo Lusitano em paz.

  11. avatar
    Joao Antonio Camoes

    No. This sort of situations are solved by supervised referendum and usually ended up with a split. In the meantime there are pain, suffering, struggle and fight. This is what History shows. Situations like the quite and smooth separation of the former Checzlovaquia are atypical, unfortunately.

    • avatar
      Ricard Abad Romeu

      the principle of might is right, is not the best option

    • avatar
      Guillermo Nicieza Forcelledo

      Ricard Abad Romeu there are not many legal and legitimate options. Well, reforming the Spanish Constitution.

    • avatar
      Pedro Castro

      Ricard Abad Romeu, the law exists exactly to prevent the “might is right” thing

  12. avatar
    Nelson Peter

    And how an “enclave” will survive outside Europe? An independent Catalonia could never become a member of EU, Spain will never accept that…

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      At least, not like Gibraltar and Andorra, Catalonia might have a good soccer team…

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      Or Maybe Cyprus…More likely.

    • avatar
      Oxman

      Franco-Spain must be thrown out of EU.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      They beg to differ.
      By the way, Romania is not a country. Never will be. Turks will take their land again… ;)

    • avatar
      Aitor Pedrosa Telleria

      think of the romanians who fled from that filthy country to work and live in catalonia, wich is by far, so more rich than your land

    • avatar
      Daniel Leu

      Spain*. You just prove how uneducated you are. If you can t have a decent conversation, shut up. Sit down, your fired.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Actually he is right. Your country is poor as hell and many of you went to CATALUNYA to have a better life.

    • avatar
      Daniel Leu

      I am pretty sure they went to Spain. I don’t see cata something on the map. Is it in Europe?

  13. avatar
    Ntinos Gotzis

    EU is allergic to referendums either way, if he suspend it civil war looks more favorable.

  14. avatar
    Marcos Carvalho

    Nop. In the short time, no. Rajoy likes to flex his “muscles”. Maybe a compensation mechanism…

  15. avatar
    Jude De Froissard

    No….it will make things worse.There should be a referendum with 85% participants to be valid….the matter is too serious to be taken lightly.

  16. avatar
    Christine Harris

    Dialogue is all-important. Secessionist sentiments will only increase unless the democratic process is seen to be respected. A minority of Catalonians is currently very disaffected and disconnected from central government in Madrid. Madrid needs to listen to Catalonia’s concerns and find a means to reach a compromise which is acceptable to all sides

  17. avatar
    Magaly Morales

    Direct control is a necessity because of the independentist actions.
    New elections will be called in January so a new regional government can be in place.

    • avatar
      Rui Barbosa

      And what happens if the independentists win again?

    • avatar
      Magaly Morales

      Rui Barbosa los golpistas no van a ganar porque van a estar en la cárcel. Y no creo que ganen los independentistas. Los catalanes ya le han visto las orejas al lobo: Fuera de Europa y las empresas marchándose de Cataluña. De hecho la manifestación de hoy no fue ni la mitad de lo acostumbrado y eso que la encabezaba Puigdemont y toda la plana y además es sábado… más claro el agua.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      You see Magaly, we portuguese speak portuguese. We speak in english with you spaniards because we do not speak your language, thus, it seems rather stupid when you answer back in castilian.

    • avatar
      Margarita G. Soto

      It has never been, it isn’t and will never be.

    • avatar
      Pere Planas

      Margarita G. Soto why? We want to be free. What’s the argument to stay?? Your army? Your king? No. Our people wants to be free. And we will be free soon.

    • avatar
      Magaly Morales

      Pere Planas you are free. And I am republican. The argument is that there is not a majority for independence. For starters. And no one retains you. Go to the moon if you like.

    • avatar
      Pere Planas

      Magaly Morales 90% in indyref is not good for you? You prefeer the resuts of the monarchy referendum?… oh wait!

  18. avatar
    eusebio manuel vestias vestias

    it is time for us European citizens to fight for our flag it is time for us to want United States of Europe

  19. avatar
    Nacho Reverter

    Wtf?? Section 155 of the Spanish constitution doesn’t talks about suspending autonomy! 155 literally says:

    Section 155
    1. If a Self-governing Community does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the Constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain, the Government, after having lodged a complaint with the President of the Self-governing Community and failed to receive satisfaction therefore, may, following approval granted by the overall majority of the Senate, take all measures necessary to compel the Community to meet said obligations, or to protect the above-mentioned general interest.
    2. With a view to implementing the measures provided for in the foregoing paragraph, the Government may issue instructions to all the authorities of the Self-governing Communities.

    • avatar
      Pere Planas

      You support rajoy? Why? You are an independent country because the catalans fight in 1640. Don’t forget it.

    • avatar
      Rocha Fenando

      Spain has to give back to Portugal OLIVENÇA!!

    • avatar
      Magaly Morales

      Pere Planas well, aren’t we rewriting history now?👻👻👻

  20. avatar
    Nelson Peter

    If you are really “homo sapiens”, you will understand the future doesn’t belong to “enclaves”, but to superpowers like USA, China, Russia. Europe will count only united and strong, as political, economical and military power. The reverse of the medal is to have, giving the examp!e of Spain, an independent Catalonia, also Castilla, Aragon and so on… Like back in the middle age! What are the chances to compete with the giants? Just like Don Qijote…

    • avatar
      Lorenzo Marini

      dude catalanism is mostly pro-europeanist so what you’ve written just lack of any actual meaning. You are actually defending the unity of Spain, which is a nation-state itself, and by no means a present or future superpower

    • avatar
      Lorenzo Marini

      also, your referring to ‘being homo sapiens’ is extremely rude, and more so as it goes which simplistic reasoning behind

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      It’s rude and brainless to start a war just for a political game. This “Rajoi” it’s the same kind of guy like Nigel Fucker… How catalanism could be europeanist? If Catalonia will become independent – wich i doubt, will never have place in EU. Spain will never accept that. And EU will never choose Catalonia instead of Spain, without assuming the risk to collapse. But the real tragedy will start after that, when every idiot will start allover the Europe to ask for independence in his yard. From northern Italy, where other idiots ask the same, to Scotland and Northern Ireland, everywhere you will see only conflicts and not a single “homo sapiens”. What I said was that in the future only the giants will matter. USA, China, Russia, Arab Union (somehow they will join forces in the future)… Who will deal with them? Hundreds of Catalonias and Lombardies?!

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      And things have to be simplistic described and presented as every idiot to understand the danger. It is not a simple local conflict, it’s the seed of another world war…

    • avatar
      Lorenzo Marini

      wait. Whatever Spain will do or cease to do in case of independence, we’re talking of the ambitions and ideals of catalanism, which are clearly europeanist. without going into the game of ‘ifs’ the big chunk of catalanism wants to be independent and apply to membership of the EU. Of course Spain would have to be convinced – but that tells nothing about the europeanism of the independentists. i guess in the end the eu wouldnt leave important economies out of the system and would bargain with spain a reinclusion. the fact that there are other ways, and that independence is probably not the ideal solution anyway, it’s yet another matter

    • avatar
      Lorenzo Marini

      and it’s not the seed of another world war ffs. you’re mixing things up.

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      Do I mix things?! Isn’t obvious??? Every country in Europe have minorities. Things will go crazy, like in the former Jugoslavia in the 90-ies…

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      Just like that, even newcomers from the middle east and Asia could ask for independence everywhere in Europe, they are more than cataloonatics…

  21. avatar
    Nelson Peter

    Who do you think will travel to Barcelona to spend money if visa will be needed and have to change euros to… pesos !?!

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Your romanian, you already need a visa and to change currency. I just hope Turkey invades your third-worldish country. Then you will understand Catalans.

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      I don’t need visa. And I don’t need to change currency, sweetheart! I have my own business and have enough money. Regarding my “third worldish” country, I love It ! Our badluck was that Mr. Churchill 70 yrs. ago draw a line on the map that left us outside Europe. And our history stopped. Our king was forced to leave and we had a lot of imbecils as leaders/presidents, just like you want to do right now with your… region, don’t even can say country! I’m sure you are well intended, but you know, the road to hell and the good intentions go damn well together. Romania was under russian occupation, for sure we know how it was. But this is the past, now we all are in the 21-st. century, not in the midlle eve anymore! I travel to Turkey next year. I’ll send them your regards. Long live Catalonia, inside the EU, in peace with all the other spanish people!

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      I’m not catalan.
      Nice bla bla bla, but for someone that lives in a newborn country you should respect the right of others to become free from opression.
      If Catalans want to be free that is up to them, they don’t need the judgement of an hypocrite asian.

      Oh, and I just wish the EU falls apart as soon as possible. Worthless corrupt institution.

      PS: Is Romania in the Schengen Area? No it is not and therefore you need permission to live outside your country. Does Romania uses the Euro? No it does not and therefore you need to change currence when you emmigrate to Catalunya by the thousands to flee from abject poverty.

    • avatar
      Margarita G. Soto

      No mediation is needed… Cataluña is a region of Spain.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Eu tenho vergonha de ver portugueses a suportar atitudes dictatoriais. Povo que não aprende com os erros não merece existir.

    • avatar
      Luísa Cunha Ventura Gagean

      José Bessa da Silva tem um bom caminho, emigre para a Venezuela, Coreia do Norte, ou um desses sítios que a esquerda tanto gosta. Eu como sou de Direita e portanto não sou como os carrascos de esquerda, acho que pessoas como você merecem existir, mas nos locais próprios.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Pois que é de direita logo se vê. Basta ver o seu amor por corrupção e falta de democracia.
      O pior de tudo é o facto de nem sequer ser da direita nacionalista. É uma dessas de direira baixinha, que se vende por um apartamento rasca na costa da caparinha. Essa direita mesquinha e sem valores que destroi Portugal e o vende a retalho a Madrid e a Bruxelas. Assim à Durão Barroso, traidores à pátria.

  22. avatar
    Eloy Oliveri

    What catalan regional goverment has done is a coup d’etat, their “referendum” has been declared illegal by Constitutional Court. Suspending an autonomous government is something foreseen in Spanish Constitution (by the way, the article 155 is copied from German Constitution), so it is perfectly legal. Once the catalan authorities come back to legality, there will be a chance for policy, not before. Otherwise it would mean to accept a blackmail, and this is not acceptable, not only for Spain, but for UE. The current situation is extremly negative for Catalonia, more than 900 companies have left the region, and this must stop asap. Anyway, for those who don’t know too much about this conflict, it is good to remember that Catalonia has a high level of autonomy, with its own goverment, parlament, police, educational and cultural policy, tv and radio chanels in catalan…

    • avatar
      Oxman

      “Perfectly legal”… So did the South African apartheid regime say about their constitution. So did the communist regime of China think when it killed 3000-4000 protesting students on Tiananmen in 1989. The same were the thoughts of the central communist regime of Yugoslavia when Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia started to demand freedom. East Timor was a part of Indonesia according to the Indonesian constitution. And so on… Brutal regimes tend to refer to their constitutions when they want to repress the people.

  23. avatar
    Thomas

    Sovereignty is an important concept; however, it has been undermined by supranational blocs like the EU. Besides, who can afford sovereignty at the present time? Russia and China, perhaps? North Korea? Is the UK going to reassert its sovereignty post-Brexit? Is Scotland? Then there is the concept of popular sovereignty, which underpins the basis of democratic republics as enshrined in a social contract. Self-determination? Well, that all depends on the definition of “a people”. It’s all very problematic!

  24. avatar
    Nelson Peter

    The only chance for all of us, like it or not, is to become full time europeans, keeping our national costumes for hollydays and celebrations. In the XXI century, with so many challenges, on a dying planet, small retrograde ideals like this one are… a lux. How about every city to declare independence?! It’s not as simple as a divorce, too many “kids” are involved…

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Sorry, me and you, we will never share nationality. We have nothing in common.

    • avatar
      Nelson Peter

      Jose, dear, you’re just uppset! I can understand… For sure we cannot have the same nationality, God wanted differently. Wish you all the best.

    • avatar
      José Bessa da Silva

      Sorry, god does not exist and I will still never share nationality with you.
      I ddo not wish you all the best because unlike you I am not an hypocrite. The fact is that I couldn’t care less if you get invaded by Turkey (your rightful owners)…

    • avatar
      Paulo Especial

      Still here? BREXIT has already happened, no need to worry with matters that don’t concern the UK any more.

    • avatar
      Magaly Morales

      No chance. Today was Saturday. Puigdemont was supposed to declare independence, headed a demonstration that was less than one third of the expected numbers. Perhaps he realised that and didn’t go ahead.

    • avatar
      J M Perz Gnlz

      No way. I’m not going to such an stupid war. I’m leaving EU-Spain-all their motherf****s in my own.

    • avatar
      Karolina

      Is that your next mission in Europe after Brexit?

  25. avatar
    Jean-Marie Giraudon

    And doing nothing is accepted the unacceptable ! It’s time to move forward for a project where all the European citizens feel happy and one. Go ahead and move your ass !!!

  26. avatar
    Paulo Especial

    No! It will only making it worse.

    Catalonians are not “Spanish”, since there isn’t a Spanish identity in it’s peoples.

    Democracy entitles to being able to choose one’s path be that whichever it is.

    They just want the possibility to choose between maintaining a connection to Spain or following its own path and Spain isn’t allowing them, as isn’t allowing other people’s to do so.

    The EU must have a position on this matter, after all what is more important the EU citizens or EU member states for the EU?

    • avatar
      Magaly Morales

      The vast majority of Catalans have Spanish identity. I have no idea in what do you justify what you are saying. Certainly not in facts.

    • avatar
      Paulo Especial

      They are a distinct people from the rest that compose present day Spain.

      Saying that most Catalans have a Spanish identity is the same as saying the all the peoples in the EU have an European identity and does that makes the peoples in the EU one and the same?

  27. avatar
    Dimitris Kitsanelis

    The “crisis” is never about people seeking for democracy. The crisis stands when oligarchic forces offend people with financial and violent weapons.

  28. avatar
    Nick Komselis

    Maybe what I’m gonna write is irrelevant to the discussion but anyway. Fact is that Catalans who are christians and share quite a few traditions with spain, served under the spanish rule for more than 500 years but still failed to identify themselves as Spanish. Now I am wondering how can there be quite a few idiots who think that sharia muslims can integrate to the European reality. Just wondering. :-)

    • avatar
      Magaly Morales

      500 years only? Rewriting history again?

    • avatar
      Nick Komselis

      You’re right. 500 years at least I should say.

    • avatar
      Ignasi Centelles Santana

      yes, completely irrelevant and a bit racist.

  29. avatar
    Oxman

    Rajoy is Franco. He wants to make a slave state of Catalunya.

  30. avatar
    Magaly Morales

    The independence movement was created to protect a group of families that made thousands of millions out of charging a percentage for each regional government contract that they authorised. They are having judicial intervention. They had to dissolve their party and their leader had to resign.
    They are just a mob of corrupted regional oligarchs.

  31. avatar
    Rui David

    No. But the PP doesn’t have anything to lose but to further divide the country and push it to the extreme right. And it seems that all the knots are very well tied, from the King to the PSOE. Paradoxally this is something that, among others, a responsible and democratic catalunyan left should have pondered very well before delivering themselves in the hands of the region’s oligarchy.

  32. avatar
    Christian Flory

    No.
    It seems that the rulers in Madrid have still not learned the most precious lesson in a successful democracy: Finding a compromise where both sides safe their faces.
    What is happening now is a shame!

  33. avatar
    Nijole Gulbinaite

    Asmeniskai galiu tik tiek pagelbeti kuriant gerai finansiskai apmokamas darbo vietas pagal Darbo Kodeksa su oficialiai legaliomis Darbo Sutartimis bei valandiniu tarifiniu atlygiu. Tikiuosi Ispanija su Regionais ir Ispanijos Vyriausybe turi toki Dokumenta kaip Darbo Kodeksas?

  34. avatar
    Jane Tse

    What problem we have nowadays is that people are judging everything from human rights and democracy. Laws and orders are all depending on the interpretation of oneself while ignoring the foundation of human and particularly modern societies are built. The constitution is supreme, the state is sovereign, cannot use suppression, deprivation and coercion to explain. Instead, they all serve the collective interest of the people, particularly in a democracy. Democracy is always about party/political competition, if people viewing democracy from a conflicting model,competition would tear communities and countries apart. I cannot see any point in this global era, one single multinational enterprise can have the size larger than hundred of countries, spread of terrorism, financial speculation, drug and human trafficking, environment issue, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, etc. are all developing in a global scale. With what individuals can confront all these challenges? It is only through collective security our survival can better be secured. So, before the Catalonia people think of our to escalate the conflict, please calculate what they have to lost beforehand and what problems they are creating should be more than solving.

    • avatar
      jthk

      When Catalonia has not been free?

  35. avatar
    Ivan Burrows

    ‘Will ignoring the will of the people resolve the crisis’ ??? Welcome to the EU 2017, it ‘will’ be you next.

    • avatar
      Karolina

      It is not the will of the people. Those who wanted to vote against independence didn’t turn up because the referendum was illegal and didn’t meet international standards. It was reminiscent of the referendum in Crimea.

      Your posts really do sound like carefully thought-out propaganda and your profile looks like one set up exactly for that purpose: no profile photo, nothing personal. A propaganda machine. In my view, this person should be banned from this debate. It is way to obvious what s/he is doing.

    • avatar
      Karolina

      By the way, the place he lists as place of residence, Brussels, oddly enough is considered to have the highest concentration of Russian spies.

  36. avatar
    Oxman

    Yes!!!! Catalunya is a free state! Free from fascist Spain!

  37. avatar
    Stavros Kleisiaris

    Make Spain a federal Republic! Then Catalonia can have its own autonomy and Spain can control the area! So everybody can be happy

  38. avatar
    Karolina

    Yes, it will help. The province will return back to the rule of law and democracy. But this can only work long-term if a legitimate referendum on independence is held once things have cooled off and people start thinking rationally again so as to avoid a knee-jerk reaction after the government’s conduct during the shoddy referendum.

    Carles Puigdemont needs to be investigated properly until it is established if he is being paid to destabilise Spain and the EU in service of a third party. It was only a few months ago that an alleged illegal agent for Russia was arrested in Barcelona and the Brits uncovered another one back in 2010. The evidence is that the Russian intelligence service has been active in Spain.

    • avatar
      Oxman

      The solution is of course that EU will become a real federal state. And in this federal state there is plenty of room for Catalunya, Scotland, Northern Irland/Ulster, Corsica, Åland Islands, Euskadi, Galiza, Faroe Islands, Skåne, Jämtland, Flandern, Sydtirol… but probably not for fascist Spain.

    • avatar
      Karolina

      I don’t really understand why Catalonia wants to be independent, Oxman, although that contention is under dispute, as there hasn’t really been a reliable referendum. I agree though that the EU could eradicate fascist tendencies in countries like Spain, Greece, Italy etc. Each of the areas you are mentioning is a different situation though. I don’t think they should all be equated.

  39. avatar
    jane tse

    Ever since the declaration of human rights, democracy is equal to anarchy. When no one respect the law, no one respect the authority, we are in a state of anarchy.

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