Spain - Catalonia declares independence, Madrid imposes direct rule on the region

[MelmothTheLost]

Madrid imposes direct rule on Catalonia just 40 minutes after the region FINALLY declared independence as Spanish Prime Minister calls for 'calm' amid fears of violence on streets

Spain is on the brink of descending into violence as Catalonia faces being imminently taken over by direct rule after the region's parliament declared independence.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy began a meeting with his cabinet at 5pm (BST) to discuss exactly how the national government will take control of the region.

During that meeting, article 155 of the country's constitution will be enacted - meaning the entire Catalan government will be dismissed and replaced by Spanish nominees, the regional police force will come under national control and public broadcasters will start taking their orders from Madrid.

Spain will also take control of the pro-independence Catalan parliament, preventing it from adopting motions that 'run counter' to Madrid's wishes.

Spain's top prosecutor has warned that those responsible for the vote could face treason charges and up to 25 years in jail, with arrests planned for as early as Monday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5023203/Catalonia-explode-violence-Madrid-imposes-rule.html

 

[K_Z]

The Spanish government is seizing control of the Catalunya media to control the rebellion:

Catalunya Radio becomes a flashpoint in the independence movement in Spain

Throughout the crisis over the fate of Catalonia, about 600,000 of the 7.5 million people who live there have followed the news in their native language on Catalunya Radio.

Now the hundreds of journalists who work there find themselves in the crosshairs of the northeastern region’s showdown with the central government.

In response to Catalonia’s drive toward independence, Spain’s Senate on Friday is set to approve a plan by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to take over the regional government — potentially including the radio station, TV3 and other public media.

http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-catalonia-radio-20171024-story.html

Spain Looks to Seize Catalonia Radio and TV as Crisis Mounts

BARCELONA, Spain — If Spain has not split in two, its media almost has. There, the struggle over the restive region of Catalonia plays out in parallel universes.

From Madrid, the region’s secessionist drive is portrayed as an act of sedition deserving to be put down. In Catalonia, the narrative is more about aspirations for self-determination by a people with a distinct identity.

“We’ve got parallel story lines led by extremist representations that are filled with clichés,” said Enric Hernàndez, the editor of the Barcelona-based newspaper El Periódico.

The central government in Madrid may soon try to align those narratives by taking charge of Catalonia’s public broadcasters, Catalunya Radio and its larger sister television company, TV3.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/...as-not-divided-spain-just-its-media.html?_r=0

Catalonia has been part of Spain for a long time, but it has considered itself a unique nation apart for an even longer time. Spain will not legalize an independence vote. The underlying questions are the ones the Europeans tried to bury, particularly after Yugoslavia: What is a nation, and what rights does it have? Both Scotland and Catalonia are nations. Do they therefore have a right to national determination or have they lost that right? And what are the consequences if the Catalans disagree?

http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2017/10/23/europes_border_problem_112598.html

Europe’s Imperial Dilemma
As Catalonia stands on the brink of secession from Spain after a controversial referendum, with Spain poised to send in troops to restore “constitutional order,” and terrorism and migration on mass scale result in ethno-nationalist backlashes, their is an increasing and urgent need in for policymakers in the United States and the United Kingdom, to engage in a serious reflection upon and reassessment of the character of EU.

The Imperial Paradox

Which brings us to the remarkable similarity between Brexit and the current Catalonian crisis. The British exit and the Spanish crackdown are both a direct consequence of the EU shaping up as an empire, without having the requisite will or capability to manage order across the continent or control the backlash resulting from its idealist and incoherent policies. Undermining state sovereignty has only empowered differing forces within EU.

https://amgreatness.com/2017/10/24/europes-imperial-dilemma/

For those that haven't travelled or lived in Spain, Barcelona, Montserrat, and all of Catalonia have long viewed themselves as ethnically different and unique from the rest of Spain, with a long and rich history. Catalan is spoken in schools, Catalunya flags fly from many balconies in the city, etc. Barcelona has enacted some social and cultural policies in conflict with the rest of Spain-- one example is that Catalunya has outlawed bull fighting. The central bull ring in Barcelona is being transformed into an upscale shopping mall.

I have to think that the August terrorist attack in the fashionable La Rambla district has a lot to do with the current escalation of tensions related to secession.

 

[K_Z]

UK, Germany and France refuse to recognise Catalunya independence

THE UK has refused to recognize Catalunya’s independence declaration.

In a statement from Downing Street, it said the vote was based on an illegal referendum and added that it wants to see a united Spain.

The statement read: “The UK does not and will not recognise the unilateral declaration of indendence made by Catalonia’s regional parliament.

“It is based on a vote that was declared illegal by the Spanish courts. We continue to want to see the rule of law upheld, the Spanish constitution respected, and the unity of Spain preserved.”

Germany and France also threw their support behind Spain.

http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-n...e-refuse-to-recognise-catalunya-independence/

By the way, the region of Catalunya encompasses about 8 million people-- not a small or insignificant number.

 

[K_Z]

Annnd....The U.S. State Department has weighed in on the declaration of independence by Catalonia:

https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/10/275136.htm

Press Statement
Heather Nauert
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 27, 2017

The United States enjoys a great friendship and an enduring partnership with our NATO Ally Spain. Our two countries cooperate closely to advance our shared security and economic priorities. Catalonia is an integral part of Spain, and the United States supports the Spanish government’s constitutional measures to keep Spain strong and united.

CNN reporting:

Catalonia government dissolved after declaring independence from Spain

Barcelona, Spain (CNN)Spain dismissed Catalonia's president and Cabinet and dissolved its Parliament on Friday hours after lawmakers in the autonomous region defied Madrid and voted overwhelmingly to declare independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called new elections and fired the Catalan police chief, as part of an unprecedented package of measures to seize control of the renegade administration in Barcelona.

He said said the moves were needed to restore legality, after a political and constitutional crisis that has gripped the country for months.

Urging Spanish citizens to remain calm, he announced that Puigdemont and his ministers would be dismissed, and new elections in Catalonia would be held on December 21.

[video=cnn;world/2017/10/27/catalan-parliament-votes-for-independence-curnow.cnn]http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/27/europe/catalonia-independence-spain/index.html[/video]

It will be an interesting weekend for Spain-- hopefully not violent. I wonder if we will see martial law implemented?

I wonder if the Catalunya police largely side with Spanish unity, or secession? The PM just fired the police chief. This is going to get uglier, IMO.

**I'm unable to fix / post the CNN link-- it reverts to some kind of strange video link.

 

[Ironside]

I feel quite sorry for the majority of people in Catalonia who want to stay with Spain.

I lived through the independence referendum in Scotland and it was a very nasty time, some pro-independence people were very abusive and aggressive. I would guess it is the same atmosphere in Spain right now.


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[wfgodot]

Homage to Catalonia, now and forever betides.