First major demonstration against labour reform measures set for June 30th
Catalan trade unions send out opening salvo in protest against government policy on run up to European general strike on September 29th
Politics
Politics news from Catalonia and Barcelona
Labour market reform approved
The Spanish Government has finally issued today the highly expected reform of the labour market. Companies will be able to fire employees after paying 33 days of compensation, from which the State will pay 8.
General Strike on the 29th September
The two main trade unions have announced a general strike against the job market reform planned by the Spanish Government. This reform has been discussed among the trade unions, business associations and the Spanish Government for more than 2 years.
Montilla, President of Four Motors for Europe
Catalan Government President becomes president of the regional cooperation association. The Four Motors for Europe encloses four of the most dynamic regions of Europe: Lombardy, Baden-Württemberg, Rhône-Alpes, and Catalonia.
European Commission agrees to keep Catalan translator
The pressure of Catalan Euro MPs has worked out. The European Commission has changed its initial position to not renew its only Catalan translator. Commissioner Reding has personally engaged in finding a replacement.
EU and Spanish Government prioritise the Mediterranean railway connection
The high speed and capacity railway connection for freight and passengers connecting Spain with France will run along the Mediterranean shore. The option of going via Zaragoza through the middle of the Pyrenees clashes with the economic crisis.
Public administration goes on strike
Government and unions clash over success of strike action. Official figures suggest 11% of participation while unions raise the figure up to 75%. The salary cuts within the public sector adopted by the Spanish Government have infuriated the unions.
President Montilla warns of danger of brush fires this summer
In a day focused on environmental acts, Catalan President asked forest defence associations to be on their guard this summer. Montilla also inaugurated a cycling park that links four important towns in Baix Llobregat, next to Barcelona.
Xavier Trias to run for Mayor of Barcelona in 2011
The Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Party (CiU) trusts its same candidate to run for Mayor of Barcelona in the elections scheduled for the spring of 2011. Recent polls confirm Xavier Trias? hopes to win in his third attempt.
Catalan Parliament to declare the Spanish Constitutional Court incompetent
Parliament President considers waiting time on Catalan Statute for Autonomy to be unbearable
President Montilla appears before Senate to ask for Constitutional Court reforms
Head of Catalan Government demands ?respect? for Catalonia and warns of rupture with Spain
62 opinion leaders call for dignified solution to Statute of Autonomy
The text urges to choose between renouncing Catalan claims or renouncing the Spanish Constitution
Euro-Mediterranean Summit in Barcelona postponed until November
Delay aims to provide more scope for action on talks between Arabs and Palestinians
Latest updates and breaking news on politics and political affairs from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and Europe. Keep up to date with the territorial crisis and Catalonia’s independence push, stories from the Catalan government and parliament, latest developments in the Spanish government, and the decisions in Europe that affect our shores too.