The Supreme Court (SC) of Spain dominated on Monday, September 28, that the top of the Catalan autonomy, Kim Torra, is obliged to go away his submit and lose his proper to carry positions within the state administration for a 12 months and a half. He additionally has to pay a advantageous of 30,000 euros. Thus, the Supreme Court rejected Torra’s attraction in opposition to the same resolution of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (HCC), issued again in December 2019.
The Catalan chief was convicted by the FCCC for disobeying the nation’s Central Election Commission. During the marketing campaign for the Spanish parliamentary elections within the spring of 2019, he refused to adjust to the fee’s order to take away from the executive buildings in Barcelona posters in assist of Catalan politicians sentenced to lengthy jail phrases for attempting to separate Catalonia from Spain in 2017.
Is the punishment too harsh?
Torra’s protection, a staunch supporter of Catalan sovereignty, justifies his shopper’s actions with a proper to freedom of opinion and believes that the punishment is “too harsh” anyway. Rafael José Gomez, professor of regulation on the University of Madrid, disagreed with this opinion. According to him, the actions of the Catalan chief “violated an important provisions of the electoral laws of Spain.”
The truth is, the professor famous, that in the course of the election marketing campaign “the state administration of any degree is obliged to look at neutrality.” Well, the presence of posters in assist of the separatists on administrative buildings is “an open try by the regional authorities to affect voters, to steer them to vote for the forces supporting the independence of Catalonia.”
What awaits Catalonia
Pere Aragones (left)
From now on, Pere Aragones, who nonetheless held the submit of deputy chairman of the regional administration, will turn out to be the interim head of Catalonia. In accordance with the regulation, as defined by Professor Gomez, the Catalan parliament may quickly elect a brand new chief from amongst its ranks. However, the 2 dominant events in parliament – “Left Republicans of Catalonia” and “Together for Catalonia” – determined to carry early parliamentary elections and solely then elect the top of the area. Elections may be held in January-February 2021.
At the identical time, probably the most radical supporters of Catalan independence have already introduced the beginning of a marketing campaign of protest in opposition to the “unfair resolution” of the court docket. It is about avenue demonstrations in Barcelona and different main cities in Catalonia. As a spokesman for the Spanish police stated to DW on situation of anonymity, there’s a concern within the safety forces that the extremist group “Committees for the Defense of the Republic”, as has already occurred many occasions, could resort to sabotage on the railways and highways of Catalonia.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Controversial referendum
On October 1, regardless of the ban of official Madrid, a referendum on independence was held in Catalonia. As a end result, the regional authorities stated that 90% of the members voted for independence with a turnout of 42.3%. The query was: “Do you need Catalonia to turn out to be an unbiased state with a republican type of authorities?”
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
“There was no referendum”
Even earlier than the referendum, Madrid introduced that the plebiscite was opposite to the structure. On October 1, the police closed polling stations, confiscated poll packing containers and ballots. Batons and rubber bullets have been used in opposition to the protesters. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stated that there was no referendum on the territory of the autonomy, however a staged one. Responsibility for the riots was blamed on the Catalan authorities.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Inspirer of the Catalan department
The ideological supporter of the independence of the area is the top of the Catalan regional administration, Carles Puigdemont. Earlier, he acknowledged that the Catalans have earned the suitable to an unbiased state within the type of a republic. And in early September 2017, the native parliament adopted a particular regulation paving the way in which for independence by a referendum.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Catalonia – “Nurse” of Spain?
Catalonia is situated in northeastern Spain. This is among the most essential industrial and agricultural areas. It is dwelling to about 7 million folks. Most of Catalonia’s pro-independence persons are satisfied that the area is “feeding” the nation. In their opinion, of the 16 billion euros in taxes that Catalonia pays to the state treasury, not a lot returns to the area.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Aggravation of relations with Madrid
The aggravation of relations with Madrid, which led to the present state of affairs, started in 2006, when Catalonia adopted a brand new model of the Statute of Autonomy. It supplies, specifically, a change in authorities funding and obliges the residents of the area to talk Catalan. In 2010, the Spanish Supreme Court declared the brand new statute unlawful – and the battle between Barcelona and Madrid started to achieve momentum.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Separatism hails from the Middle Ages
Catalonia’s quest for independence has grown over the centuries. From X to the start. XVIII century. this area was unbiased. But in 1714, because of the War of Spanish Succession and the subordination of Catalonia to the Bourbons, native authorities have been disbanded right here, and Spanish was declared the state language. By the top of the XIX century. Catalonia regained its significance by financial and cultural restoration.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Under the dictatorship of Franco
The victory of the fascists within the Spanish Civil War in 1939 introduced the Catalans a brand new wave of suppression of freedoms and the prohibition of regional languages. It was solely after the dying of dictator Franco in 1975 that Catalonia was in a position to declare higher independence. The Democratic Constitution of 1978 and the 1979 Statutes of Autonomy secured the self-government of the autonomous areas of Spain, together with Catalonia.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Declaration of independence
10 days after the unlawful referendum, the Catalan authorities adopts the doc on the independence of the area. “We are establishing the Catalan Republic as an unbiased and sovereign state,” it says. However, the declaration of independence was postponed.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Was there independence?
On October 11, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy introduced an ultimatum to the regional authorities: Catalonia should make clear whether or not it has declared independence or not. This is a crucial situation so as to have the ability to apply the a hundred and fifty fifth article of the structure and deprive Catalonia of the autonomy standing.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Dissolution of the Catalan Parliament
Under strain from the central authorities, the Parliament of Catalonia, after a secret poll at a gathering on October 27, introduced the method of making an unbiased state. In response, the Spanish authorities determined to dissolve the regional administration, in addition to to introduce direct authorities in Catalonia, in accordance with Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, and new elections have been introduced.
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Mass demonstration of opponents of the independence of Catalonia
According to numerous estimates, from 300 thousand to 1 million supporters of the unity of Spain took to the streets of Barcelona on October 29. The march was held below the slogan: “Catalonia is all of us.”
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Catalonia on the highway to independence
Flight to Brussels
The head of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, disadvantaged of his powers by Madrid, left on October 30 along with his associates from Barcelona to Belgium. In Spain, separatists are accused of mutiny, riot and misuse of public funds. However, Puigdemont himself stated that he wouldn’t search political asylum, however would return to Spain if he was assured a good trial.
Author: Natalia Mehed, Galina Petrovskaya
