How Spain-Catalonia standoff has evolved?
MADRID: From courtroom battles to noisy street demonstrations, a confrontation between the central government in Madrid and independence movements in the wealthy northeastern Catalonia region has been gripping Spain for weeks. The conflict is due to come to a head Sunday when Catalonia intends to hold a regional ballot on whether to break away from the rest of Spain, despite government efforts to prevent the vote. Here is a look at how the standoff has evolved:
After Catalan separatists in the region’s parliament passed a law on Sept. 6 to hold a referendum on independence, Spain’s national government said it was illegal and complained to the Constitutional Court. That court ordered the ballot put on ice while its judges deliberate on its legality. They have not ruled yet. Previous efforts in Catalonia to vote on independence have fallen foul of the Spanish Constitution, which refers in Article 2 to “the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, the common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards.”
As independence supporters defied the Constitutional Court’s decision and continued to prepare the ballot, the state prosecutor in Catalonia filed two lawsuits: one against members of the Catalan parliament for disobedience and abuse of power, and another against members of the Catalan regional government, including regional president Carles Puigdemont, for disobedience, abuse of power and embezzlement. The latter charge carries jail time.
Also, the Constitution’s Article 155 allows the government to suspend, totally or partially, Catalonia’s self-government if the region disobeys a court order. Spanish police have so far arrested a dozen officials in Catalonia on suspicion of aiding and abetting the vote, triggering large street protests.
Follow the money
Spain’s central authorities have taken over control of virtually all Catalonia’s regional public spending. The aim: to ensure that no tax revenue is diverted to pay for the referendum. The Spanish government has snatched away from the Catalan government the administration of its spending on health, education, social services and the payment of civil servants. Also, every invoice paid by Catalan authorities, including for non-essential services, must go to Madrid for rubber-stamping before it is paid.
A new system demands weekly public spending reports from Catalan authorities, whereas Spain’s other autonomous regions report monthly. Tightening the screw, Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro imposed credit restrictions on Catalonia, blocking its government’s access to vital debt funding on international markets.