Catalan parties condemn Madrid’s measure to seize power in Catalonia

Catalan political parties have reacted to Spain's decision to suspend Catalonia's self-rule and most of them have condemned Madrid's measures. 'Coup d'état' and 'virulent attack' are some of the expressions used to reject Mariano Rajoy's announcement earlier on Saturday. 

"A true coup d'état"

Spain's decision has also been criticized by the spokeswoman for Catalonia's leading coalition Together for Yes (JxS) Marta Rovira. Via Twitter, she affirmed that there is "a democratic and legal mandate that protects everything we have done from Parliament and the Government as of December 27, 2015," recalling that democratic institutions "are elected by the citizens of Catalonia, not the Government of the Nation."

Her condemnation was also echoed by the PDeCat senator, Josep Lluís Cleries. "This is a true coup d'etat against the people of Catalonia falsely protected by the Constitution." He said.

"Who knows how to read article 155, it says nothing of the measures that this gentleman and his government intend to impose on Catalonia," he added, referring to Spanish president Mariano Rajoy.

"An authoritarian offensive"

The Catalunya en Comú party (Catalonia in Common, or CeC), in favor of an agreed referendum but ambiguous about independence, considered “the application of Article 155” of the Spanish constitution as “totally unjustifiable.” They additionally deemed it an “authoritarian offensive for a unilateral declaration of independence that has never existed, especially considering the clear offer of dialogue coming from Catalonia.”

In a statement, the party urged the “unity of citizens and political and social Catalan forces” in face of “the virulence of the attack on the sovereignty of Catalonia.” They additionally asked for “common front on the pro-Catalonia forces in defense of sovereignty,” calling for a “massive” participation in the demonstration planned for the evening of Saturday October 21, organized to demand the release of grassroots pro-independence organization leaders, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart, incarcerated without bail awaiting trial for sedition against the Spanish government.

CeC further warned Rajoy that if he “seeks the moral defeat and humiliation of Catalonia,” he “will not achieve it.” According to the party, this “authoritarian offensive” from Rajoy is not against “pro-independence but against all the people of Catalonia.”

An attack on rights and freedoms

The leader of Catalunya en Comú and the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has spoken out on social networks reacting to the announcement by Spanish president Mariano Rajoy that Article 155 of the Spanish constitution will take control of Catalan public institutions and take control of Catalonia’s government.  Colau stated that it’s clear that the Spanish government “suspended the self-government of Catalonia that so many people fought for.” On her Twitter account, she tweeted that this is “a serious attack on the rights and freedoms of everyone, here and everyone,” referencing the fact that both the people of Catalonia and those of the rest of Spain are affected.