martes, 11 de noviembre de 2014

SPAIN AGAINST THE CATALONIA NATION -- Catalan News Agency - People's Party (PP) continues to criticise November 9's participatory process and announces legal actions

Catalan News Agency - People's Party (PP) continues to criticise November 9's participatory process and announces legal actions

People's Party (PP) continues to criticise November 9's participatory process and announces legal actions

CNA

Barcelona (ACN).- The day after 2.3 million citizens gave their opinion on Catalonia's independence from Spain,
the reactions of Spanish and Catalan parties did not bring great
surprises nor changes of attitude. The People's Party (PP), which runs
the Spanish Government, considered the vote "illegal" and announced that
there will be consequential reactions from the Spanish authorities,
including the Public Prosecution Office. In addition, they considered
independence supporters to be "a minority" in front of "a silent
majority". The Spanish and Catalan Socialist parties (PSOE and PSC,
respectively) repeated that it is the moment for a Constitutional Reform
and to start negotiations, while they rejected a referendum on
independence. Populist party Ciutadans (C's) asked for early elections.
Spanish nationalist and populist parties UPyD and VOX asked the
suspension of Catalonia's autonomy and the arrest the Catalan President.
Parties supporting self-determination praised Sunday's vote. The
governing centre-right pro-Catalan State coalition CiU wants to explore
negotiations with Madrid, although the Liberal CDC is sceptical about
the results. However, the debate about early elections is delayed for a
few weeks. The left-wing independence party ERC and the alternative left
and radical independence CUP rejected negotiations with the Spanish
Government. The green socialist and post-communist coalition ICV-EUiA
asked for a binding referendum. In addition, the Catalan Government will
expand its appeal to the Constitutional Court against the Spanish
Government, in order to include complaints about "the hostile and
anti-democratic attitude" of Rajoy's cabinet.

No big surprises on Monday, the day after 2.3 million Catalans cast their ballot in a unique participatory process.
The 'number 2' of the governing People's Party, María Dolores de
Cospedal, insisted on the threats launched on Sunday evening by the
Spanish Justice Minister, Rafael Catalá. De Cospedal stated that the
process had been carried out "outside the legal framework" and
guaranteed that the Spanish authorities will react "consequently". She
also stated that on November 9 "there was a not achieved attempt to
violate national sovereignty".

The PP threatens civil servants and directors of high-schools

In addition, an official spokesperson form the PP and Member of the
European Parliament, Esteban González Pons, warned that the Catalan
President will receive a letter from the Public Prosecutor Office
because he "committed an offense". On top of this, he highlighted that
"many directors of high-schools" and "civil servants" will have "to
answer to justice" for having allowed to set polling stations within the
education centres and "for the orders received by their bosses" and the
Catalan Government. Besides, the Catalan leader of the PP, Alícia
Sánchez-Camacho, said that those participating on Sunday were "a
minority" in front of "a silent majority" that is opposed to
independence and did not vote.

The PSOE insists on the Constitutional Reform and rules out independence referendum

The leader of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, was in Barcelona on Monday to
participate in the PSC's weekly meeting. Sánchez said he "respected" the
Catalans that were "mobilised" on Sunday but he also asked that those
"who did not vote on November 9" are taken into account. The PSOE leader
said that the participatory process showed that the frontal opposition
attitude of the Catalan President, Artur Mas and the lack of reaction of
the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, are a "failure". He also
insisted on starting to "negotiate" a "Constitutional Reform", which the
PSOE proposed more than a year ago and that has been rejected by the PP
on manifold occasions. In such a reform, the PSOE would not include the
explicit recognition of Catalonia's nationhood and a specific economic
agreement similar to the Basque Country's and Navarra's. On top of this,
the PSC will prioritise the reform of the Constitution and will not
work towards organising a legal independence referendum, despite all of
its MPs having run in the last Catalan elections promising a legal
self-determination vote.

The governing CiU wants to give negotiations with Rajoy another chance

The CiU, which runs the Catalan Government, is divided on what should
be the next steps, since the two parties that form the coalition have
different opinions. However, on Monday they agreed to give negotiations
with Rajoy another opportunity – perhaps the last one – while the debate
about early elections is delayed for a few weeks. The Liberal CDC,
which is the largest party and that of the Catalan President, stated it
will work to organise "a mutually-agreed" referendum on independence,
which means negotiating with the Spanish Government. However they
admitted to be sceptical about the possibilities of reaching an
agreement and insisted on having "a definitive democratic mandate"
regarding independence, which could also be reached through early
elections to the Catalan Parliament. The Christian-Democrat UDC does not
like the option of calling early elections. They asked Rajoy to make a
move and start negotiating or it will soon be too late and early
elections will be unavoidable.

The other pro-self-determination parties reject negotiations

The parties clearly supporting independence, reject negotiating with
the Spanish Government once again because they consider this path to be
exhausted. The ERC is asking for calling "constituent elections" to
build an independent state if citizens vote for a majority of
pro-independence parties. According to the ERC, on Sunday, citizens
issued "a very clear democratic mandate" in favour of independence from
Spain. The CUP considered the "CiU not to be a valid actor to build
independence" and considered that "now it is time to execute the
mandate" from November 9. In addition, they totally reject negotiations
with the Spanish authorities. The ICV-EUiA considered that November 9's
participatory process "breaks the political stage" in Spain. They
considered it is "absurd" to try to talk again with the Spanish
authorities and stated that Catalonia "deserves a binding consultation
vote" on independence. However, they also insisted on prioritising
social policies with "a fair budget" for 2015.

The other Spanish nationalist parties reject making any concessions

The populist and anti-Catalan nationalism party Ciutadans (C's), did
not want to asses November 9's vote because "it does not have any
political or legal validity". In addition, they insisted on calling
early elections, where "80% or 90% of Catalans should vote". According
to them and despite there having refused to comment on Sunday's vote, in
Catalonia "only 30% of the electoral census" is pro-independence". They
also criticised Rajoy for not having stopped Sunday's vote from
happening. The Spanish nationalist party UPyD asked Rajoy to use Article
155 of the Constitution to remove the Catalan President from office, as
they considered he made "a coup d'état". In addition, they criticised
Rajoy for being too soft with Catalonia. The extreme-right party VOX
filed a complaint against the Spanish Prime Minister for having allowed
"a secessionist referendum". They also asked the Spanish Government to
suspend Catalonia's autonomy.

The PP's 'numer 2', María Dolores de Cospedal (by R. Pi de Cabanyes)

Related links

http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/milestones-in-catalonia-s-self-determination-before-2012-massive-pro-independence-demonstration