Spain pressures Catalans after threats of civil disobedience
The separatist will hold a session on Thursday to decide how to respond
Spain pressured Catalan separatist leaders to abandon their independence drive on Tuesday as radical pro-secessionists prepared plans for a campaign of “mass civil disobedience”.
As Madrid prepared to pass measures by the weekend to remove Catalonia’s leadership, far-left separatists were expected to detail their planned response if the central government moves to take over powers from the regional government.
The worst political crisis in Spain in decades was sparked by a banned October 1 independence referendum deemed illegal by the country’s government and courts.
Based on the outcome, Catalonia’s conservative regional president Carles Puigdemont initially threatened a unilateral declaration of independence. Madrid insisted it would take over the region’s governance, and cash, to prevent that.
Mr Puigdemont could call elections for a new regional parliament to stave off Madrid’s seizure of power.
But a central government minister warned Tuesday that elections might not be enough to prevent Madrid taking over the region.
As the nation waited to see who will blink first in the constitutional standoff, Spain’s justice minister urged Mr Puigdemont to clarify his stance.
“Mr Puigdemont’s violation of his obligations cannot be resolved merely by calling elections,” Rafael Catala told RNE radio.
This would require “elections and something extra” — which would include ruling out any possibility of unilaterally declaring independence.
The Senate was set to approve a formal mandate Tuesday for a 27-member committee that will examine how best to take over the running of Catalonia.
Meanwhile, the far-left, anti-capitalist Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), scheduled a press conference in Barcelona to announce its planned reaction if the government goes ahead and executes an article of the constitution designed to rein in the regions.
The CUP will also hold meetings in a dozen cities and towns to plot a way forward.
On Monday, the party accused Madrid of the “biggest assault” on the Catalan people since Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. It said a takeover by Madrid would be met with “massive civil disobedience”. Franco who ruled from until 1975 suppressed Catalonia’s autonomy, and culture.