Fascist Madrid v. Catalan Independence
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Tuesday is the moment of truth – Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and parliamentarians to meet to decide yea or nay on independence, or possibly delaying a decision by renewing a call for mediation and dialogue.
Madrid vows secession won’t be allowed, the power of the state to be exerted against it.
Deputy PM Soraya Saenz de Santamaria repeated PM Mariano Rajoy’s warning. Calling Puigdemont a fanatic, she said action will be taken if Catalonia declares independence.
At 6PM local time Tuesday, Puigdemont will address parliament “to report on the current political situation.”
Madrid warns he risks arrest if independence is declared. Ruling People’s Party MP Pablo Casado said “(h)istory should not be repeated” – referring to Lluis Companys in 1934 declaring a “Catalan State within the Spanish Federal Republic.” Francisco Franco executed him.
“We hope that (Tuesday) nothing will be declared, because perhaps the one who declares it will end up like the one who declared it 83 years ago,” Casado warned, adding:
“We are going to stop Catalonia’s independence. We will take the necessary measures to stop it. Catalonia’s secession will not happen, and the government will do all that is needed to make sure.”
Unnamed sources in Puidgemont’s Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) suggested three possible scenarios Tuesday evening:
- a declaration of independence;
- a symbolic one only, maintaining the status quo for now; or
- no declaration, calling for mediation and dialogue with Madrid instead.
Catalan business interests raised concerns about possible capital flight. International opposition is a key factor. The autonomous region’s Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) political party strongly favors independence.
So does the Catalan National Assembly – a political organization, established in May 2011, campaigning actively for cessation.
On Sunday, Puigdemont said independence was “foreseen.” Catalan law supports it. So does international law. “We will do what the law says,” he stressed.
While preferring negotiations with Madrid, he added “we will do what we came to do.”
Catalans overwhelmingly support independence. A 92% referendum majority speaks for itself.
Battle lines are drawn – democratic Catalan self-determination or Spanish fascism, an easy choice, far from easily enforced.
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