Politics

More than 160,000 people hit the streets this Saturday in Barcelona to demand that the Spanish Government host more refugees from war-hit areas such as Syria. Demonstrators carried banners with mottos such as ‘Refugees Welcome’ and ‘Enough Excuses, welcome them now’. The protest comes after Spain pledged to take in about 16,000 asylum seekers from other EU countries under a quota system agreed in 2015. However, so far it has only received 516 refugees of the 10,772 initially established in the scheme of distribution of the European Commission. The mobilisation was organised by the campaign ‘Our home, your home’, which gathers together more than 200 Catalan associations and NGOs and a hundred cultural companies and citizens. 2016 will go down in history as one of the most death-filled years in the Mediterranean: at least 4,700 people, according to the official record, passed away trying to reach safety in Europe. 

The Spanish Parliament will finally create a committee to investigate whether the Spanish Ministry for Home Affairs plotted to discredit Catalonia’s pro-independence process. According to a police report published last July, the so-called ‘Operation Catalonia’ was launched during last Conservative People’s Party (PP) term of office, involving former Spanish Minister for Home Office, Jorge Fernández Díaz and Inspector José Villarejo, amongst many others. Indeed, Fernández Díaz will have to appear before the Committee in relation to several tapes published last June which proved how he and former Director of Catalonia’s Anti-fraud Office, Daniel De Alfonso, plotted to discredit Catalonia’s main pro-independence parties. The creation of this Committee was first requested by left wing pro-independence ERC, former liberal ‘Convergència’, now renamed as the Catalan European Democratic Party PDeCAT and the Spanish Socialist Party, but was delayed due to Fernández Díaz’s serious illness.

The Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) has definitely suspended the governing party ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and radical left pro-independence CUP joint proposal to call a referendum in 2017. A decision which, according to Catalan Government Spokeswoman, Neus Munté “was not surprising” not even at “this extraordinary speed” and culminating “a tense week” during which the 9-N trial over symbolic vote on independence took place at Barcelona’s High Court. However, she assured that the ruling “won’t change the Government’s determination to call a referendum this year”. Munté emphasised that the joint resolution “was discussed and voted on by the Catalan MPs in accordance to the freedom of speech” and that these MPs were “democratically elected”. In a similar sense, CUP MP Benet Salellas warned that his group “will guarantee that the referendum takes place, regardless of the TC’s wishes”.

The commitment taken by Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, to call a referendum in autumn 2017, regardless of the Spanish Government’s position, has been definitely suspended by the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC). Although the body had already ordered a cautionary suspension of the governing party ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and radical left pro-independence CUP joint proposal on this matter, this Tuesday the resolution became definite. “No court decision will change our unequivocal determination to call a referendum this year”, stated Catalan Government Spokeswoman, Neus Munté. She also emphasised that the joint resolution emerged from the democratic mandate of the 27-S Catalan elections. The magistrates also left in the Public Prosecutor’s hands whether to take further legal action against Parliament’s President, Carme Forcadell, who already testified before Barcelona’s High Court in December for allowing the pro-independence roadmap to be put to vote amongst the Catalan MPs.

Those summonsed over the 9-N symbolic vote on independence “didn’t disobey” the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) ban by allowing the non-binding consultation in 2014 but “faced up to the Spanish State, which was abusing its power”. This is what former Catalan President, Artur Mas, explained before the judge at the 9-N trial’s last session this Friday. He made such a statement also in relation to the other accused, former Ministers Joana Ortega and Irene Rigau. “The fact that one government opposes another can be appreciated more or less, but it is not a crime” he added and lamented that what has been brought before the court is “the success” of the 9-N, in which more than 2.3 million citizens expressed their opinion about Catalonia’s political future.

The last day of the 9-N trial over the symbolic vote on independence, which took place in 2014, saw the Public Prosecutor, Emilio Sánchez-Ulled’s conclusions. “It is enough of what has been organised around this”, stated Sánchez-Ulled and denied having been put under any pressure by the Spanish Government, as many who consider this trial a political one have repeatedly claimed. “I haven’t received any order [from the Spanish Government], believe it or not”, he said in a firm tone and added that he “wouldn’t have consented to it”. “If you believe it or not I don’t really care”, he added. “This trial is also democracy because democracy includes many more things than those explained here”, he added.

The trial over the 9-N symbolic vote on independence in 2014, which took before Barcelona’s High Court former Catalan President Artur Mas amongst other members of the Government has provoked reactions within and outside of Catalonia. MEPs from all parties have told the CNA that Catalonia and Spain should look for “a political” solution to their differences rather than resorting to the court. “Politicising the judiciary is always a wrong way”, stated ECR MEP Mark Demesmaeker, and lamented “the EU institutions’ silence” on this matter. “Europe can give good solutions”, EPP MEP Csaba Sógor pointed out and called for the 27 Member States to “be on the side of peace, dialogue and negotiation”. According to Ana Gomes, from the Socialists and Democrats, Spain’s response to Catalonia’s political aspirations “doesn't dissuade pro-independence supporters, it does rather the contrary”.

Former Catalan Minister for Presidency and now Catalan European Democratic Party (PDCeCAT) spokesperson in the Spanish Parliament, Francesc Homs, testified this Wednesday before Barcelona’s High Court, during the trial over the 9-N symbolic vote on independence. Homs, who was former Catalan President Artur Mas’ right hand man at the time when the non-binding consultation took place, in 2014, gave his testimony as witness. “I told the Government that we were not violating any law and even less the penal code”, Homs stated and pointed out that the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) resolution wasn’t clear. Coinciding with his declaration, this Wednesday it was made public that Homs will have to appear before the Spanish Supreme Court on the 27th of February, accused of disobedience and perversion of justice when co-organising the 9-N.

Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, opened this Wednesday’s plenary session in the Parliament and commented on the trial over the 9-N symbolic vote on independence, which is taking place this week. “Spanish democracy has gotten sick” he said and accused the Spanish State of taking former Catalan President, Artur Mas and former Catalan Minsters, Irene Rigau and Joana Ortega before the court “without blushing” in what he considered “a political trial”. According to Puigdemont, Mas, Rigau and Ortega “are guilty of believing in the Parliament and listening to the citizens” and compared the trial with the “impunity” with which recent events such as former Spanish Minister for Home Affairs, Jorge Fernández Diaz’s smear conspiracy against pro-independence parties seem to be tolerated. Puigdemont also criticised Spanish President, Mariano Rajoy’s willingness to dialogue with US President, Donald Trump and other leaders in Europe and Latin America but not with Catalonia.

Spanish Unionist ‘Ciutadans’ and the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) will take the budget bill for 2017, which was due to be put to vote this February, to the Council for Statutory Guarantees. The function of the body is to check whether the regulations of the Catalan Government comply with the Catalan Statute of Autonomy and the Spanish Constitution. The spokesperson of ‘Ciutadans’ and PSC in the Parliament considers the items allocated for calling “a new 9-N” to be against both the Catalan Statute of Autonomy and the Spanish Constitution. Moreover, they noted that other budget lines are “unclear” and may be “hidden” in order to ultimately hold the referendum in September 2017, as the Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, has repeatedly announced. 

The trial over the 9-N symbolic vote on independence in 2014, which took before Barcelona’s High Court former Catalan President Artur Mas amongst other members of the Government continues. This Tuesday, after Mas and former Catalan Ministers Irene Rigau and Joana Ortega’s testimony, the judges are analysing the role of the Catalan Ministry for Education in the non-binding consultation and several education inspectors and high school directors have testified on this matter. The magistrates aim to find out whether the cession of educative centre as polling stations on the consultation day constituted a crime. The Public Prosecutor has accused Mas, Ortega and Rigau of disobedience and breach of trust for allegedly ignoring the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) ban over the 9-N symbolic vote.

Many political representatives extended their support to former Catalan President, Artur Mas and Catalan Ministers Joana Ortega and Irene Rigau, who faced trial this Monday for allowing the 9-N symbolic vote on independence in 2014. “This trial should have never happened”, stated Parliament’s President, Carme Forcadell and added that “putting out the ballot boxes can’t be considered a crime in any democratic country”. Indeed, Forcadell herself testified before the court for allowing the debate on Catalonia’s independence in the Catalan Chamber. The case produced not only a huge popular outrage but also international reaction. Members from the Catalan Executive and representatives from all those parties which expressed in favour of holding the 9-N non-binding referendum, showed their solidarity with the three accused and lamented that what was on trial this Monday was democracy as a whole.

Former Catalan President, Artur Mas, testified before the court this Monday for alleged disobedience and breach of trust for allowing the 9-N symbolic vote on independence in 2014. During his testimony, Mas insisted that the non-binding referendum “was not a personal whim or a last-minute idea” but “the consequence of wide parliamentary agreements and explicit and reiterated mandates of the Chamber”. Moreover, he emphasised that the 9-N "was unstoppable" since it was in the hands of volunteers rather than under the Government's control. Mas insisted that the 9-N took place “after democratic elections which nobody refuted nor questioned”. Mas refused to answer the Public Prosecutor’s questions after his testimony. Former Catalan vice-president, Joana Ortega and former Catalan Minister for Education, Irene Rigau have also declared before the judge.

More than 40,000 people filled Avinguda Lluís Companys in Barcelona this Monday in support of former Catalan President, Artur Mas, on his way to the Barcelona’s High Court. Mas faces trial for allowing the 9-N symbolic vote on independence to take place in 2014. Mas could face a 10-year ban from public office for putting out the ballot boxes and he is accused, together with former Catalan Ministers Irene Rigau and Joana Ortega, of “disobedience” and “breach of trust” as the Public Prosecutor believes that Mas, Ortega and Rigau “were fully aware” that by preparing the non-binding consultation “they were breaking the mandatory rulings of the Spanish Constitutional Court”.

Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, gave an institutional speech this Monday before former Catalan President, Artur Mas, former vice-president, Joana Ortega and former Catalan Minister for Education, Irene Rigau faced trial for allowing the 9-N symbolic vote on independence in 2014. “Many of us feel on trial today and thus we will show our outrage”, said Puigdemont and added that he considered the 9-N non-binding consultation “one of the many messages which Catalonia has sent” to the Spanish state and described it as “a joyful day with a strong democratic component, and which was full of hope”. “A country which is able to hold a consultation such as the 9-N has a healthier democracy than that of a country which puts on trial those who made it possible”, he stated. Hundreds of people expressed their support for those whom have been summonsed before Catalan Government headquarters, at Barcelona’s Plaça Sant Jaume.