BREAKING: Catalonia Declares Independence

[Mike88]

Spain subverting democracy. Who woulda thunk it?

Actually no. It is the Catalan government that is subverting democracy. The debate on the Independence law was a complete mess as Junts pel Sí skipped over many parliamentary rules and forced the approval of this bill without a serious discussion in Parliament. The Spanish government is just following the law, but the Catalan government is doing everything they can to make Madrid explode and do something that they could regret.

[Mike88]

Barcelona city will not allow municipal spaces to hold the referendum.

[Mike88]

El País/Metroscopia poll on the referendum: (Catalonia voters only)

Q. Do you think that the October 1st referendum is legal or valid?

56% No
38% Yes

Also, El País has a very good report on why the majority of Catalonians are silent on the referendum and the independence questions.

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[Mike88]

So, do you think the referendum will actually take place on 1 October or not?

I think it will. It’s the perfect selling point: oppressive federal govt, we must decide to succeed, etc.

It will probably happen, like it did in 2014, but PP and PSOE are now willing to negotiate with the Catalan government after October 2nd. The Finance minister is even open to negotiate a new financial autonomy for Catalonia. The victimization of the Catalan government seems a bit difficult after this small openness by the Spanish government.

[Mike88]

Portuguese Parliament approves vote of "worry about the Catalonia crisis", but rejects motion against the police violence and repression.



The Portuguese parliament approved today a motion, proposed by the PS, about the ongoing situation in Catalonia. The vote expresses the worry Portugal has about the tensions between Madrid and Barcelona. This passed with the votes of PS, PSD, CDS and the abstention of CDU, BE and PAN. At the same time, another motion, proposed by BE and PAN, against the police violence/repression was rejected with the votes of PSD, CDS and the abstention of the PS. Nonetheless, 2 MPs from the PSD and 9 PS MPs voted in favour of this motion.

[Mike88]

CUP seems to be angry at Puigdemont and are already calling him a "traitor". Early elections in Catalonia?

[Mike88]

António Costa, Portugal's PM: "I'm in solidarity with the defense of the constitutional principle of the unity of Spain".

[Mike88]

Spain requested a european arrest warrant against Puigdemont.
Many are truly shocked by the decision to jail the whole government. The crisis continues...

As a foreigner I stayed away from gatherings of both side. Will go tonight for the first time.

They broke the law plus their leader fled to Brussels, i don't know how they would escape jail time, especially when there is a risk of escape of many former Catalonia government members.