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Puigdemont ready to head joint civil candidacy in Dec 21 election
In an exclusive interview with the Catalan News Agency (ACN) the president backs the idea of standing on a joint ticket for the “greater good” of democracy
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, ousted by the Spanish government, is willing to stand at the head of a joint civil candidacy in the upcoming elections, as proposed on Friday by the Ateneu Barcelonès. In an exclusive interview with the Catalan News Agency (ACN in Catalan) in Brussels, Puigdemont said that he was in favour of the idea of a joint candidacy. “I identify with an idea of these characteristics, which rather than looking to the legitimate aspirations of each party rather seeks to protect the greater good in these elections, which is democracy,” he said.
Calling it everyone’s “moral duty” to contribute, the Catalan president “in exile” in Belgium said the joint candidacy initiative “would be good news,” before adding, “I am ready to contribute to making it possible.” Insisting that “we are in such an exceptional moment that exceptional measures are needed,” Puigdemont said that he was convinced that a great many people in Catalonia would also welcome the idea. The Spanish government has called Catalan elections for December 21 as part of its imposition of direct rule on Catalonia.
“I identify with an idea of these characteristics, which rather than looking to the legitimate aspirations of each party rather seeks to protect the greater good in these elections, which is democracy”
Asked whether he would campaign from exile in Belgium, Puigdemont said he would like to “campaign from freedom”, above all the Catalan president called for “the minimum normality that can be expected in a democratic process,” for him and his imprisoned ministers. “What democracy is this in which you can only say what is in accordance with what the government thinks? No, no, democracy is about disagreeing, and openly, if necessary,” he said.
Also on Friday in Brussels, Puigdemont met MPs Anna Gabriel and Benet Salellas from the pro-independence CUP party. In fact, CUP is to hold a party assembly on Sunday in Granollers to decide whether to stand in the December election alone, as part of a left-wing coalition or a pro-independence front. In the previous Catalan parliament, which was dissolved by the central government when it imposed direct rule on Catalonia, CUP backed but did not join Puigdemont’s Together for Yes coalition.
Catalan News
* 10 November 2017 04:12 PM byACN | Brussels:
http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/puigdemont-ready-to-head-joint-civil-candidacy-in-dec-21-election
Parliament president pays €150,000 bail and expects to leave prison on Friday
Supreme Court judge accepts payment and allows her release
The Catalan Parliament president, Carme Forcadell, paid the €150,000 bail on Friday morning and her defense expects her to leave prison at some point throughout the course of the day. Spain’s Supreme Court accepted the amount and her release should be within a matter of hours. The judge granted bail to her on Thursday evening but did not allow her to pay it right away after making the ruling public. Therefore, she had to spend last night held in custody, unlike her fellow members of the Parliament bureau.
Four of them were also granted a bail, but were given a week to pay for it. Lluís Corominas, Lluís Guinó, Anna Simó and Ramona Barrufet will have a week to pay €25,000 each, so they will only be imprisoned if they fail to do so by next Thursday. There was uncertainty over the cautionary measures against Joan Josep Nuet, the only bureau member against independence but also accused because he voted in favor of allowing the vote on the declaration of independence to take place. In the end, the judge let him go free without any measures.
Catalan News
10 November 2017 01:08 PM byACN | Barcelona
Catalan Parliament president leaves prison after spending the night there
Carme Forcadell pays a €150,000 bail on Friday as Spain’s Supreme Court judge rejects accepting the amount on Thursday evening.
The Catalan Parliament president, Carme Forcadell, was released on Friday at around 2pm local time. She had spent the night in Alcalá-Meco prison after the judge granted bail to her on Thursday evening but did not allow her to pay it right away after making the ruling public. Forcadell paid the €150,000 bail set for her on Friday morning. She managed to gather such an amount thanks to the Catalan National Assembly (ANC). This is the main pro-independence organization in Catalonia, and it has been raising money for a solidarity fund over the past few weeks.
Now all the chamber bureau members are free after their hearings at the Supreme Court on Thursday. Four of them were also granted bail, but were given a week to pay it. Lluís Corominas, Lluís Guinó, Anna Simó and Ramona Barrufet will have a week to pay €25,000 each, so they will only be imprisoned if they fail to meet the deadline next Thursday. There was uncertainty over the cautionary measures against Joan Josep Nuet, the only bureau member against independence but also accused because he voted in favor of allowing the vote on the declaration of independence to take place. In the end, the judge let him go free without any measures in place. All of them are accused of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.
Yet ten pro-independence officials are still in prison on the same charges. Eight deposed ministers testified last week at Spain’s National Court and the judge decided to send them to jail without bail while awaiting trial. They have been held in custody for over a week. Two civil pro-independence leaders have also been in prison since October 16 for leading a protest in which Spanish police raids on Catalan government buildings were allegedly obstructed on September 20.
Catalan News
10 November 2017 02:47 PM byACN | Madrid
S&D vice-president calls for the release of “political prisoners”
Slovenian social democrat MEP Tanja Fajon criticizes Rajoy’s “lack” of willingness to dialogue and says that “repression and arrests aren’t a democratic attitude”
The vice president of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon, called for the release of “political prisoners” in Catalonia and said she regretted the attitude of the Spanish government. In an interview with the ACN, the head of the S&D in Slovenia said that “it is difficult” to accept that “members of a government that have tried to express their will in a peaceful way are jailed”.
The MEP urged the European institutions to get involved in promoting dialogue between Catalonia and Spain. Fajon pointed out that the Catalan question is a “European affair” because it’s about the “respect for human rights and fundamental rights."
Fajon “blames” Rajoy for the Catalan crisis
According to Fajón, if there is someone to “blame” for the Catalan crisis, it’s the president of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy, and his “lack“ of willingness to open a dialogue. The MEP pointed out that “many steps have led” to the current situation and said that “political repression and arrests are not in any way a democratic attitude.” She added that she’s following what’s happening in Catalonia "with great concern”.
Fajon pointed out that in Slovenia they “discussed first that every nation had the right to self-determination and that no one could deny this right.“The S&D MEP stated that she doesn’t question “the legality” of the Spanish constitution, but also highlighted that nations have the right to decide”their own future”.
“Political repression and arrests are not in any way a democratic attitude"
The MEP calls for dialogue and mediation
The vice-president of the S&D hoped that “both governments get involved in a dialogue” and said that European institutions should support them “through mediation”. Fajon added that she doesn’t want to see Spain”destabilized".
Asked about the role of the Spanish socialist party (PSOE) and its support for the enforcement of Article 155, Fajon said that she supports what the PSOE does in Spain, but at the same time encouraged all Spanish politicians to act “appropriately”. “I have sympathy for the Catalans, but I also understand Spanish socialists very well,” she added.
A “very sensitive” situation
Fajon pointed out that it’s a “very sensitive” situation and said that she “doesn’t question that the referendum wasn’t legal”. Nevertheless, she stated that “in Slovenia developments led to a situation in which a political decision was needed”. At this point, she acknowledged that she “sees some parallels between the Catalan situation and the Slovenian one.” According to her, for Spain and Catalonia to come to an agreement about the referendum is “the best option”.
The S&D vice-president is cautious about whether Slovenia could be one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Catalonia. “I think it’s too soon,” she said.
Catalan News
09 November 2017 01:46 PM byACN | Brussels
‘El Jueves’ editor appears in court over allegations of slander
The allegations to the satirical magazine were brought by the Spanish riot police
The El Jueves magazine has a long history of publishing satirical and humorous news – more than 40 years, to be exact. But a piece published on October 4 about Spanish riot police in Catalonia has recently landed the publication in hot water, with accusations of slander by a Spanish police union.
The piece, titled ‘The continued presence of riot police uses up cocaine reserves in Catalonia,’ refers to the law enforcement dispatched to Barcelona and other Catalan cities for the October 1 referendum vote. The Spanish law enforcement saw this as an accusation, and in turn took the magazine to court. Indeed, editor of El Jueves, Guille Martínez was summoned to testify on November 8.
“For reasons unknown to us this has ended up with a complaint by the Spanish police”
Guille Martínez · Editor of El Jueves magazine
Martínez: “It’s one of the many fictitious news pieces in the section”
Martínez stated that he and the rest of the magazine’s staff are “surprised” because the article in question was “fictitious” news, like so many others they publish. “It’s one of the many fictitious news pieces in the section,” Martínez explained, “for reasons unknown to us this has ended up with a complaint by the Spanish police.”
He agreed that anyone can file a complaint if they believe that their rights have been violated, but noted that at El Jueves they are “very calm” because what they have done is “not slander.” In fact, he has promised that the magazine “will remain the same,” because they do not understand what they “are being accused of,” nor did they have any intention of committing slander.
More than 40 years of satire
Martínez noted that the magazine has been publishing humorous and satirical pieces for more than 40 years without any problem except in some “occasional” cases. “We address readers who understand a humorous tone, and who support it. And yes, that may create misunderstandings with people who do not know us so well,” he admitted. He also added that the political climate may be more “turbulent,” but assured that El Jueves will “carry on.”
Guille Martínez explained that they felt the support of their readers and a good part of the citizenship is “unanimous.” “The majority of people understood that this supposed slander that we’re being accused of doesn’t exist,” he pointed out. “We feel understood and supported” he concluded.
The magazine has also published other such humorous pieces as ones titled ‘Adult man living with his parents refuses to declare independence to avoid application of Article 155.’ Indeed, the editor of the publication pointed out that he believes that “anything can be made into a joke” and that there is “nothing” so important that a “humorous side cannot be found.”
Catalan News
09 November 2017 05:31 PM byACN | Barcelona
Catalonia sees second general strike in a month
Unions, civic organizations and political parties sign up to stoppage demanding release of imprisoned Catalan officials.
Catalonia sees its second general strike in just over a month on Wednesday, November 8, after the Spanish Superior Court in Catalonia ruled on Tuesday that the stoppage could go ahead. It is the second such protest in little more than a month, after the successful general strike on October 3 to protest Spanish police brutality during the October 1 referendum.
Despite uncertainty over whether the strike would go ahead, by Tuesday afternoon the stoppage was taking shape, with the CGT, the Coordinadora Obrera Sindical and USTEC unions all joining up. The strike to demand the release of imprisoned Catalan officials also has the support of the ANC and Òmnium Cultural pro-independence civic organisations. While the UGT and CCOO unions decided not to join the strike, arguing that the reasons for the stoppage are political, both organizations called on the public to join the demonstrations. Protests have been called outside town halls, and in the Cathedral square in Barcelona, at 6pm.
Catalan News will also be observing the strike called for November 8, 2017.
“Defending rights and freedoms not guaranteed in Spain”
“Wednesday is a day to come together and defend the rights and freedoms that are not guaranteed in Spain, but which are in Belgium,” said secretary general of the UGT union, Camil Ros, yesterday, in reference to the Belgian authorities allowing dismissed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont go free while eight of his ministers have been held in custody in Spanish prisons. Both the CCOO and UGT unions are calling for the release of the Catalan officials, and the also imprisoned heads of the ANC and Òmnium, as well as the withdrawal of Article 155 imposing direct rule on Catalonia from Madrid.
“Wednesday is a day to come together and defend the rights and freedoms that are not guaranteed in Spain”
Camil Ros · Secretary general of the UGT union
Along with major unions and the ANC and Òmnium supporting the stoppage, the strike is also backed by the Defense Committees of the Republic (CDR in Catalan), which in recent days has organized the blocking of roads and railway lines in protest over the imprisonments. The CDR is expected to again block much of Catalonia’s transport infrastructure on Wednesday to coincide with the strike. Meanwhile, the ERC and CUP pro-independence parties will mobilize their members for the strike, with the Catalunya en Comú party backing only the protests but not the stoppage.
“Other mechanisms for channeling social unease”
However, the country’s main business associations have come out against the strike. The CECOT and PIMEC organizations argue that “there are other mechanisms for channeling social unease that do not harm the economy.” While CECOT argues that political issues should be dealt with by political institutions, PIMEC expressed sympathy for the imprisoned officials but argues that the strike is not a response to any conflict between companies and employees.
Catalan News
* 07 November 2017 04:49 PM byACN | Barcelona:
http://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/catalonia-sees-second-general-strike-in-a-month
Spain’s ruling party says direct rule of Catalonia may be reimposed after election
‘If they backslide, they will face the same answer,’ states People’s Party spokesman
When will the enforcement of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution –that is, direct rule– in Catalonia come to an end? The measures passed by the Spanish government in the Senate state that once a new Catalan president is appointed after the election, the unprecedented measures will come to an end. Yet, no one rules out that they might go on longer than expected or might be reinstated. This is what a spokesman for Spain’s ruling People’s Party said on Tuesday.
“I am confident that no one intends to backslide after the next election in Catalonia, if they backslide, they will face the same answer,” said spokesman Rafael Hernando. In fact, the spokesman added that if after the December 21 poll the new Catalan government decided to “violate the Constitution or attack the sovereignty of the state,” Article 155 could be triggered again now that it has already been developed.
“If they want to go ahead with the breakup after December 21, the Spanish government would be justified and obliged to implement a new Article 155”
Xavier García Albiol · PP leader in Catalonia
On Monday, the People’s Party leader in Catalonia, Xavier García Albiol, put the same idea on the table: “If they want to go ahead with the breakup after December 21, the Spanish government would be justified and obliged to implement a new Article 155,” he said. Albiol and some other PP spokespeople have also hinted at the possibility of making the manifestoes of some political parties illegal.
Even though the measures designated by Mariano Rajoy’s cabinet have a deadline, the Spanish executive can change any conditions of Article 155 as long as the Senate ratifies it. While, the direct rule of Catalonia is supposed to end once a new president is appointed, under the same measures the Catalan parliament is not allowed to hold an investiture debate to elect a new president.
Catalan News
7 November 2017 04:33 PM byACN | Barcelona
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