Catalan government denounces the obstacles to the vote abroad before Spanish Constitutional Court
CNA / Sara Prim
Barcelona (CNA).- Only 7,5%
of the nearly 200,000 Catalans whom live abroad and are registered to
vote were ultimately able do so in the last 27-S elections. “We warned
that we won’t stand on the side lines and we haven’t” stated Catalan
Minister for Public Affairs Meritxell Borràs and announced that the
Catalan Government has presented an appeal to the Spanish Constitutional
Court to “assume responsabilities”. “It is clear that irregularities
did happen in the months and weeks before the 27-S” and “someone must be
held accountable, whether it is someone in the Postal Service, the
Foreign Ministry, or the Electoral Roll office” she stated. Borràs also
accused Electoral Roll Office of “violating fundamental rights” by
denying the government’s petition to extend the postal vote for those
Catalans living abroad but allowing the army and citizens from other
parts of Spain to vote until a later date. Borràs described the decision
as “contradictory” and accused Electoral Roll Office of being
“committed to not facilitating” the vote abroad.
of the nearly 200,000 Catalans whom live abroad and are registered to
vote were ultimately able do so in the last 27-S elections. “We warned
that we won’t stand on the side lines and we haven’t” stated Catalan
Minister for Public Affairs Meritxell Borràs and announced that the
Catalan Government has presented an appeal to the Spanish Constitutional
Court to “assume responsabilities”. “It is clear that irregularities
did happen in the months and weeks before the 27-S” and “someone must be
held accountable, whether it is someone in the Postal Service, the
Foreign Ministry, or the Electoral Roll office” she stated. Borràs also
accused Electoral Roll Office of “violating fundamental rights” by
denying the government’s petition to extend the postal vote for those
Catalans living abroad but allowing the army and citizens from other
parts of Spain to vote until a later date. Borràs described the decision
as “contradictory” and accused Electoral Roll Office of being
“committed to not facilitating” the vote abroad.
The vote abroad “is an authentic
odyssey” stated the Catalan Minister for Public Administration,
Meritxell Borràs when she received the ballots from those Catalans
living abroad. She added that 7,000 ballots that were sent on time
weren’t able to reach their destination.
odyssey” stated the Catalan Minister for Public Administration,
Meritxell Borràs when she received the ballots from those Catalans
living abroad. She added that 7,000 ballots that were sent on time
weren’t able to reach their destination.
Soon after the election day, Borràs admitted that
“something went wrong” in the vote abroad system and that the Spanish
State couldn’t ignore “such a violation of a basic and fundamental
right”. She warned that the Catalan Government “won’t stand on the side
lines” and her promise has been proven to be true. Borràs announced
this Wednesday that the Government has presented an appeal before
Spanish Constitutional Court to “avoid such an absurd situation from
happening again”. “It is clear that irregularities did happen in the
months and weeks before the 27-S” and “someone must be held accountable,
whether it is someone in the Postal Service, the Foreign Ministry, or
the Electoral Roll office” she stated. Borràs also confirmed that the
Government has requested a report to both the Postal Service and
Electoral Roll office to analyse wether all the procedures were
respected and worked as expected.
“something went wrong” in the vote abroad system and that the Spanish
State couldn’t ignore “such a violation of a basic and fundamental
right”. She warned that the Catalan Government “won’t stand on the side
lines” and her promise has been proven to be true. Borràs announced
this Wednesday that the Government has presented an appeal before
Spanish Constitutional Court to “avoid such an absurd situation from
happening again”. “It is clear that irregularities did happen in the
months and weeks before the 27-S” and “someone must be held accountable,
whether it is someone in the Postal Service, the Foreign Ministry, or
the Electoral Roll office” she stated. Borràs also confirmed that the
Government has requested a report to both the Postal Service and
Electoral Roll office to analyse wether all the procedures were
respected and worked as expected.
Electoral Roll Office didn’t respect “fundamental rights” nor “the equality principle”
Borràs also accused Electoral Roll Office of “violating
fundamental rights” by denying the government’s petition to extend the
postal vote for those Catalans living abroad. Borràs appealed to the
“equality principle” as the postal vote was extended for the militaries
and for those Catalans citizens from other parts of Spain and also
pointed that the deadlines were extended in the European elections.
fundamental rights” by denying the government’s petition to extend the
postal vote for those Catalans living abroad. Borràs appealed to the
“equality principle” as the postal vote was extended for the militaries
and for those Catalans citizens from other parts of Spain and also
pointed that the deadlines were extended in the European elections.
The Catalan Minister for Public Administration didn’t
accuse the Spanish State of acting deliberately but assured that
Electoral Roll Office worked to make the procedures “more complicated
rather than facilitating the right to vote”. “A third part of those
Catalans whom requested to vote couldn’t finally do it and this is not
an opinion, it is a fact” she concluded.
accuse the Spanish State of acting deliberately but assured that
Electoral Roll Office worked to make the procedures “more complicated
rather than facilitating the right to vote”. “A third part of those
Catalans whom requested to vote couldn’t finally do it and this is not
an opinion, it is a fact” she concluded.
Answer to those Catalans who sent their complaints
The Ministry has sent a letter to those Catalans who
expressed their problems to vote in the past 27-S elections. They have
been offered the possibility to contact to association of lawyers
“Drets” in order to start a lawsuit. On the other hand, the letter also
reminds them how to request their vote and which are the deadlines in
order to vote in the upcoming 20-D Spanish elections. In relation to
this, the Ministry also sent letter to the Spanish Minister for Home
Affairs urging him to make “some changes” to avoid this situation from
happening again in the 20-D.
expressed their problems to vote in the past 27-S elections. They have
been offered the possibility to contact to association of lawyers
“Drets” in order to start a lawsuit. On the other hand, the letter also
reminds them how to request their vote and which are the deadlines in
order to vote in the upcoming 20-D Spanish elections. In relation to
this, the Ministry also sent letter to the Spanish Minister for Home
Affairs urging him to make “some changes” to avoid this situation from
happening again in the 20-D.
More on
27-S, Catalan Minister for Public Administration, Catalans abroad, Electoral Roll Office, Meritxell Borràs, Spanish Constitutional Court, Vote, Vote abroad
Ballots ready at a polling station (by ACN)
