Opposition leader accuses Catalan public TV of 'inciting hatred'

Inés Arrimadas says TV3 "manipulates" content in the "interest" of certain parties and pledges to reimpose direct rule

The leader of Ciutadans in Catalonia, Inés Arrimadas, on the first day of campaign (by Jordi Pujolar)
The leader of Ciutadans in Catalonia, Inés Arrimadas, on the first day of campaign (by Jordi Pujolar) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

April 12, 2019 11:50 AM

Cs opposition party leader, Inés Arrimadas, accused Catalonia's public TV channel, TV3, of "manipulating" the content it shows in favor of the pro-independence parties.

In a TV3 interview on the first day of campaigning, the unionist politician accused the TV outlet of "inciting hatred," which prompted the presenter's surprise. "Are you going to file a lawsuit against us for this reason?" she asked.

Arrimadas responded by saying that her party has made an official complaint about a program broadcast this week showing interviews with relatives of Catalan leaders on trial. They are "exclusively in the interest of certain candidacies," she said.  

For her, such programming does not respect "political pluralism."

Arrimadas, who is Cs' main candidate for Barcelona in the upcoming general election, also said should her party would reimpose direct rule on Catalonia should it get into government.

Citing violations of "the rights of unionist supporters by the the separatist movement," the Cs leader said her party had "more than enough reasons" to suspend Catalonia's self-rule.

Arrimadas was also critical of president Quim Torra, who she accused of "disobeying judicial orders and then boasting about it," while the Spanish government "looks the other way."