Catalonia’s authorities have scorned all Spaniards with referendum

SPAIN - King Felipe of Spain has accused the Catalan authorities of attempting to break “the unity of Spain” and warned that their push for independence could risk the country’s social and economic stability.

In a rare and strongly worded television address on Tuesday evening, he said the Catalan government’s behaviour had “eroded the harmony and coexistence within Catalan society itself, managing, unfortunately, to divide it”. Speaking two days after the regional government’s unilateral independence referendum, in which 90% of participants opted to secede from Spain, he described Catalan society as “fractured” but said Spain would remain united. The king made no mention of the violence that marred the referendum when Spanish police officers raided polling stations, beat would-be voters and fired rubber bullets at crowds. Instead, he focused on the actions of the government of the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont. “These authorities have scorned the attachments and feelings of solidarity that have united and will unite all Spaniards,” he said. “Their irresponsible conduct could even jeopardise the economic and social stability of Catalonia and all of Spain. The king’s speech followed a BBC interview with Puigdemont in which he vowed to press ahead with a declaration of independence, saying the regional government would “act at the end of this week or the beginning of next”. Puigdemont has previously said independence would be declared within 48 hours of a successful yes vote. He also warned the Spanish government that any attempt by Madrid to suspend regional autonomy and take control of Catalonia’s institutions would be “an error which changes everything”. In his speech, the king described the regional government actions as “an unacceptable attempt” to take over Catalan institutions, adding that they had placed themselves outside both democracy and the law.

(Theguardian.com)