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2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis

January 01, 1970

A constitutional crisis took place in Spain from 2017 to 2018 as the result of a political conflict between the Government of Spain and the Generalitat de Catalunya under the then-President Carles Puigdemont—the government of the autonomous community of Catalonia until 28 October 2017—over the issue of Catalan independence. It started after the law intending to allow the 2017 Catalan independence referendum was denounced by the Spanish government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and subsequently suspended by the Constitutional Court until it ruled on the issue.[7][8] Some international media outlets have described the events as "one of the worst political crises in modern Spanish history".[9]

2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis
Part of the Catalan independence movement
Crowd protesting in front of the Catalan ministry for Economy and Finance (top); polling station on 1 October (middle left); Carles Puigdemont presenting the Catalan declaration of independence (middle right); Mariano Rajoy announcing the enforcement of direct rule (bottom)
Date6 September 2017 – 1 June 2018
(8 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)
Location
Spain, primarily Catalonia
(some events throughout Europe)
Caused by
MethodsProtests, demonstrations, civil disobedience, civil resistance, civil disorder (rioting, vandalism, occupations), general strikes
Resulted in
  • Direct rule enforced for six months. Quim Torra elected as new President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, with the formation of a new Catalan government ending direct rule.
  • Referendum held despite suspension.
  • Operation Anubis.
  • Street protests throughout Catalonia; 2017 Catalan general strike.
  • Independence unilaterally declared, then annulled by Constitutional Court.
  • Article 155 of the Constitution enforced and direct rule imposed over Catalonia.
  • Puigdemont and part of his cabinet flee to Belgium to avoid charges.
  • Spanish court orders a jail sentence to 8 of Puigdemont's cabinet members (most later released on bail) and EAW against Puigdemont (later withdrawn).
  • Regional election called for 21 December; plurality for anti-independence party Cs, but pro-independence parties retain their majority. Total collapse for Rajoy's party.
  • Political deadlock in the Parliament of Catalonia over investiture. Puigdemont prevented from being elected from abroad; Jordi Sànchez dropping bid as a result of detainment; Jordi Turull charged with rebellion and put under detention after first failed ballot.
  • EAW against Puigdemont reactivated; Puigdemont detained in Germany on 25 March 2018.
Parties
Lead figures
Number

Catalan police force:

  • 17,000 (until 28 October 2017)[1]

Police detachment in Catalonia:

Catalan police force:

  • 17,000 (from 28 October 2017)[1]
Casualties and losses

Civilians injured:

  • 1,066 (according to the Catalan Health Department)[4]

Detained:

Arrested:

  • 10

Agents injured:

Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart were both arrested on 17 October 2017. Senior Generalitat figures were officially dismissed from office on 28 October 2017 after direct rule was enforced.

Puigdemont's government announced that neither central Spanish authorities nor the courts would halt their plans and that it intended to hold the vote anyway, sparking a legal backlash that quickly spread from the Spanish and Catalan governments to Catalan municipalities—as local mayors were urged by the Generalitat to provide logistical support and help for the electoral process to be carried out—as well as to the Constitutional Court, the High Court of Justice of Catalonia and state prosecutors.[7][10][11] By 15 September, as pro-Catalan independence parties began their referendum campaigns, the Spanish government had launched an all-out legal offensive to thwart the upcoming vote, including threats of a financial takeover of much of the Catalan budget, police seizing pro-referendum posters, pamphlets and leaflets which had been regarded as illegal and criminal investigations ordered on the over 700 local mayors who had publicly agreed to help stage the referendum.[12][13] Tensions between the two sides reached a critical point after Spanish police raided the Catalan government headquarters in Barcelona on 20 September, at the start of Operation Anubis, and arrested fourteen senior Catalan officials. This led to protests outside the Catalan economy department which saw Civil Guard officers trapped inside the building for hours and several vehicles vandalized.[14] The referendum was eventually held, albeit without meeting minimum standards for elections and amid low turnout and a police crackdown ended with hundreds injured.[15][16] Also Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that up to 431 officers were injured bruised or even bitten.[17]

On 10 October, Puigdemont ambiguously declared and suspended independence during a speech in the Parliament of Catalonia, arguing his move was directed at entering talks with Spain.[18][19] The Spanish government required Puigdemont to clarify whether he had declared independence or not, to which it received no clear answer.[20] A further requirement was met with an implicit threat from the Generalitat that it would lift the suspension on the independence declaration if Spain "continued its repression", in response to the imprisonment of the leaders of pro-independence Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Òmnium Cultural, accused of sedition by the National Court because of their involvement in the 20 September events.[21][22] On 21 October, it was announced by Prime Minister Rajoy that Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution would be invoked, leading to direct rule over Catalonia by the Spanish government once approved by the Senate.[23][24][25]

On 27 October, the Catalan parliament voted in a secret ballot to unilaterally declare independence from Spain, with most deputies of the opposition boycotting a vote considered illegal for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain, as the lawyers of the Parliament of Catalonia warned.[26][27][28] As a result, the government of Spain invoked the Constitution to remove the regional authorities and enforce direct rule the next day,[29][30][31] with a regional election being subsequently called for 21 December 2017 to elect a new Parliament of Catalonia.[32] Puigdemont and part of his cabinet fled to Belgium after being ousted,[33] as the Spanish Attorney General pressed for charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds against them.[34][35][36]

Background edit

The recent increase in support for Catalan independence has its roots in a Constitutional Court ruling in 2010, which struck down parts of the regional 2006 Statute of Autonomy that granted new powers of self-rule to the region. The ruling came after four years of deliberation concerning a constitutional appeal filed by the conservative People's Party (PP) under Mariano Rajoy—then the country's second-largest party, in opposition to the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party—and was met with anger and street protests in Catalonia.[37][38] Shortly afterward the PP took power in Spain, and after a massive independence demonstration took place in Barcelona on 11 September 2012—Catalonia's National Day—the Catalan government under Artur Mas called a snap regional election and set out to initiate Catalonia's process towards independence.[39]

After a pro-independence coalition formed by the Junts pel Sí alliance and the Popular Unity Candidacy won a slim majority in the Parliament in the 2015 regional election, Carles Puigdemont replaced Mas as President of the Generalitat. Puigdemont promised to organise a binding independence referendum based on results from a multi-question, non-binding vote in 2014, when about 80% of those who voted were believed to have backed independence for the region, and up to 91.8% supported Catalonia becoming a state—albeit on an estimated turnout around or below 40%.[40] The Catalan government invoked the right of people to self-determination and Catalonia's political, economical and cultural background to back up its proposal for a referendum on Catalan independence.[41][42] The Government of Spain, now with Mariano Rajoy as Prime Minister, opposed such a vote, arguing that any referendum on Catalan independence would go against the country's 1978 Constitution, as it made no provision for a vote on self-determination.[43]

On 9 June 2017, Puigdemont announced that the planned independence referendum would be held on 1 October the same year. The Catalan government criticised the attitude of the Spanish government in refusing to negotiate a referendum and accused it of behaving undemocratically.[44]

Start of crisis edit

Referendum suspended edit

 
Pro-independence supporters during a rally on 11 September 2017

On 6 September 2017, the ruling Junts pel Sí (JxSí) coalition and its parliamentary partner, the Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), passed the Law on the Referendum on Self-determination of Catalonia in the Parliament of Catalonia that was to provide the legal framework for the intended independence referendum scheduled for 1 October. The way in which the law had been pushed through Parliament and the clear unconstitutionality of the law became an issue of controversy.[45] Catalan opposition parties accused JxSí and CUP of fast-tracking the law through parliament, not allowing them to appeal the law before being put up to vote.[46] In 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that the rights of the opposition were indeed undermined.[47] Shortly after the parliamentary vote, in which most of the opposition MPs walked out from the chamber without voting on the bill, the Catalan regional government signed the decree calling the referendum.[48][49] On 7 September and under a similar procedure as the previous day, pro-independence lawmakers in the Parliament of Catalonia passed the Law of transitional jurisprudence and foundation of the Republic, aimed at superseding the Spanish Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia with a new legal framework should a simple majority vote 'Yes' to the independence choice with no minimum participation required.[50] Besides its unconstitutional character, the law was criticized for being approved with a simple majority, in contrast with the two thirds needed to reform the Statute of Autonomy or the Spanish Constitution, the generous control it afforded the executive power over the new judicial branch and the extensive degree of immunity offered to the president of the new republic.[51][52]

The People's Party-led Spanish government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that it would appeal the bill to the Constitutional Court, which agreed to hear all four of its unconstitutionality appeals and subsequently suspended the law and the referendum until it could rule upon the matter. Despite the referendum suspension, the Catalan government announced it would proceed with the vote anyway.[50][53] This prompted Attorney General José Manuel Maza to ask security forces to investigate possible preparations from the Catalan government to hold the vote, as well as announcing he would present criminal charges against members of both the regional parliament and government for voting and signing off the referendum. The national government proceeded to deploy a series of legal measures intended to nullify the referendum, while also warning local councils in Catalonia to either impede or paralyse efforts to carry out the vote.[7][48] Previously, local mayors had been given 48 hours by the regional government to confirm the availability of polling stations for 1 October.[54][55]

Within the next two days, nearly 74% of Catalan municipalities—comprising about 43% of the Catalan population—had agreed to provide the necessary polling stations for the referendum, whereas many of the most-populated urban areas—representing 24% of Catalan inhabitants—had voiced their opposition to the vote.[56] The largest city and capital of Catalonia, Barcelona—accounting for about 20% of the region's population—was caught in the middle, with its local mayor, Ada Colau, refusing to make a statement whether the municipality would provide logistic support to the referendum or not while rejecting putting public servants at risk; she, however, voiced her support for the people's right to vote in a fair and legal referendum.[57][58] Concurrently, President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont, Vice-president Oriol Junqueras, the entire Catalan government as well as parliamentary officials allowing the referendum law to be put to vote in Parliament—including Parliament Speaker Carme Forcadell—faced charges of disobedience, misusing public funds and making deliberately unlawful decisions as elected officials as the High Court of Justice of Catalonia agreed to hear the criminal complaints filled by state prosecutors.[10][59]

Judicial and police action edit

Main article: Operation Anubis
 
Protests in Barcelona after the arrest of fourteen Catalan government officials on 20 September.

On 8 September the Attorney General of Catalonia, José María Romero de Tejada, presented two complaints to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) against the Government and the Bureau of Parliament for crimes of disobedience, prevarication and misappropriation of public funds, as announced the day before by the Attorney General José Manuel Maza. These complaints included the guarantee request for the members of the Government as well as a request for a notification to all mayors of Catalonia to prevent any "personal or material resource, including local" resources being provided for the celebration of referendum. The court was also asked to notify the Catalan media managers of the prohibition of inserting institutional advertising or propaganda of the referendum.[60]

These complaints were admitted by the TSJC on 14 September without accepting the request for a deposit for the members of the Government.[61]

A decision on 13 September from Spain's public prosecutors to order a criminal probe of all local mayors who had publicly announced they would help stage the independence referendum—totalling over 700—came the day after the Constitutional Court had accepted the Spanish government's request to suspend the second of the two laws that had been approved by the secessionist majority in the Catalan parliament the previous week. The probe meant that prosecutors could choose to present criminal charges—or even arrest, if failing to answer the summons—local mayors who disobeyed the Constitutional Court's ruling. As part of a series of moves to block the Catalan referendum, prosecutors had also instructed police officials to seize ballot boxes, election flyers and other items that could be of use in the illegal vote, whereas the Constitutional Court had instructed regional government officials to show how they were preventing the vote from going ahead within a 48-hour deadline.[62][63] In response, the Catalan government sent a letter to Treasury Minister Cristóbal Montoro announcing that it would stop sending weekly financial accounts to Spain's central government, a previously established obligation that was meant to verify whether the region was using public money for the promotion of its independence drive as well as a requirement for the region's access to a funding programme to autonomous communities established in 2012.[64] The Spanish government then proceeded to take direct control of most of Catalonia's invoice payments.[65][66]

In a search on 19 September, Spanish police seized significant election material which had been in store by referendum organizers at the offices of a private delivery company in Terrassa. These included voting cards contained in envelopes with the Catalan government's logo.[67] The next day, the Civil Guard raided Generalitat offices and arrested fourteen senior officials from the Catalan government—most notably, these included Josep Maria Jové [ca], deputy to regional Vice-president Oriol Junqueras.[68][69] This came after mayors from towns supporting the referendum were questioned in court by state prosecutors.[70] Regional premier Carles Puigdemont condemned the actions as "anti-democratic and totalitarian", accusing the Spanish government of 'de facto' imposing a state of emergency and of suspending Catalonia's autonomy after it took effective control over Catalan finances.[71] Public protests occurred in Barcelona after news of the arrests emerged, with left-wing political party Podemos and Barcelona mayor Ada Colau joining the growing criticism of Mariano Rajoy's government crackdown on public servants, dubbing it as an "authoritarian regression". The previous day, the Congress of Deputies had voted down a motion from Ciudadanos to support the Spanish government's response to the referendum, which was rejected by 166 votes to 158.[72][43][9] Rajoy defended his government's actions in that "What we're seeing in Catalonia is an attempt to eliminate the constitution and the autonomous statute of Catalonia... Logically, the state has to react. There is no democratic state in the world that would accept what these people are trying to do. They've been warned and they know the referendum can't take place".[43] Rajoy also called for the Catalonia government to give up its "escalation of radicalism and disobedience", calling for them to "Go back to the law and democracy" and dubbing the referendum a "chimera", as tens of thousands gathered in the streets of Barcelona and other Catalan cities to protest police actions.[73][74] The Spanish government did not rule out invoking Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which would allow the central government to adopt "the necessary measures to compel regional authorities to obey the law"—in practice, allowing for the autonomy's effective suspension and direct rule of the region.[9]

On 21 September, the Catalan government acknowledged that the raid and arrests in the previous day severely hampered the referendum's logistics by preventing any alternative election data centre to be established in time for the vote to take place.[75] Nonetheless, Catalan Vice-president Junqueras called for people to turn out and mobilise on 1 October, turning the social response into a "censure motion to Rajoy", stating that "If there is any possibility of change in Spain, democracy must triumph in Catalonia".[76][77] As street protests continued throughout Catalonia, additional police reinforcements were sent by the Spanish government to block any moves to hold the referendum on 1 October.[78][79] Spanish prosecutors formally accused some protesters in Barcelona of sedition, after several Civil Guard patrol cars had been vandalised on Wednesday night.[14] By 23 September, the Spanish government announced that the Mossos d'Esquadra—the regional police force—were to be subordinated to a single command dependent of the Spanish government and that the Interior Ministry would assume co-ordination over all security forces in Catalonia.[80] The previous day, several hundred students had announced a permanent occupation of the historic building of the University of Barcelona, protesting the state's actions.[81][82][83]

Development edit

Referendum and subsequent events edit

See also: Catalan independence referendum, 2017 and 2017 Catalan general strike
 
Demonstration in Barcelona during the general strike held in Catalonia on 3 October 2017.

Despite the suspension, the Catalan referendum was held on 1 October 2017, as scheduled by the Generalitat. The absention rate was 58%, with the 2,044,038 voters in favour of independence amounting to 39% of all 5,313,564 registered voters.[84] Over 12,000 officers from the National Police Corps and the Civil Guard were deployed throughout Catalonia in an effort to close off polling stations and seize all election material to prevent the vote from taking place.[2] The Spanish government was forced to call off police raids after clashes with protesters resulted in two people seriously injured, one for a gum ball shot against the eye and the other one due to a heart attack. 893 civilians and 111 agents of the Nacional Police and the Civil Guard were reported to have been injured.[85][86][5][6] According to some Spanish media these previously reported figures may have been exaggerated.[87][88][89][90] The Guardian's columnist, Peter Preston, said the number of injured "hadn't been independently checked" while he still described the police action as "violent and frightening".[91]

However, the Official College of Doctors of Barcelona (Col·legi de Metges de Barcelona) stated that "professionalism and independence of doctors can not be questioned because they act under a deontological code to attend and diagnose patients".[92] The judge who is currently investigating the accusations of police violence had already identified 218 people injured on 10 October, 20 of whom were police officers.[93][94]

The events of 1 October sparked a public outcry in Catalonia, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to protest Spanish police violence.[95]

 
Demonstration in Manresa on 3 October 2017.

On 3 October 2017, as huge protest rallies and a general strike took place in Catalonia, King Felipe VI delivered an unusually strongly worded televised address in which he condemned the referendum organizers for acting "outside the law", accusing them of "unacceptable disloyalty" and of "eroding the harmony and co-existence within Catalan society itself". He also warned the referendum could put the economy of the entire north-east region of Spain at risk.[95][96][97] Reactions to the King's speech were mixed. Party officials from the PP and Ciudadanos praised the King's "commitment to legality",[98] whereas leaders from Unidos Podemos and Catalunya en Comú criticised it as "unworthy and irresponsible", paving the way for a harsh intervention in Catalan autonomy.[99] PSOE's leaders expressed support for the King's words in public, but were reported to be privately dissatisfied that the King had not made any call to encourage understanding or dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan governments.[100] On 5 October the Constitutional Court of Spain suspended a future session of the Catalan Parliament (scheduled for 9 October) that had been planned to push for a Declaration of Independence.[101]

On 5 October, Banco Sabadell, the second-largest bank based in Catalonia, announced its decision to move its legal headquarters out of the region amid economic uncertainty over the future of Catalonia's political situation ahead of a projected unilateral declaration of independence the ensuing week, which had seen sharp falls in the group's share prices the previous day and rating agencies downgrading the region. Concurrently, CaixaBank, the biggest bank in the region and the third largest in Spain, also announced it was considering redomiciling outside Catalonia.[102][103][104] This sparked a massive business exit in the ensuing hours, with companies such as Abertis, Gas Natural, Grifols, Fersa Energias Renovables, Agbar, Freixenet, Codorníu, Idilia Foods, San Miguel Beer and Planeta Group also announcing or considering their intention to move their HQs out of Catalonia. The Spanish government announced on Friday 6 October that it would issue a decree allowing companies based in Catalonia to move out of the region without holding a shareholders' meeting.[105][106][107][108] On 11 October, Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art announced that it was repatriating its collection of Art & Language works on loan at Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) since 2010.[109][110] Within two weeks, more than 1,000 business and firms would move out of Catalonia.[111]

 
Demonstration against Catalan independence in Barcelona on 8 October 2017

On 7 October, tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Madrid and Barcelona dressed in white and without flags with the slogan 'Shall we talk?', asking for a deescalation of the political conflict.[112] On 8 October, the largest demonstration against Catalan independence in recent Spanish history took place in Barcelona, the local police estimating at about 400,000 the number of participants.[113] Later High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell, Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa and several representatives of the opposition parties in the Catalan parliament delivered speeches against the independence process.[114]

Simultaneously, pro-unity groups increasingly took to the streets throughout Spain, with some gatherings leading to scuffles in Barcelona and Valencia. The Mossos d'Esquadra were put under investigation for disobedience, accused of not complying with a command from the High Court of Justice of Catalonia to prevent the referendum and with their passivity allowing polling stations to open.[115][116][117]

In an ambiguous speech during a parliamentary session in the Parliament of Catalonia on 10 October, Puigdemont declared that "Catalonia had earned the right to be an independent state" and that he defended "the mandate of the people of Catalonia to become an independent republic". However, he immediately announced that parliament would suspend a formal declaration of independence in order to pursue dialogue with the Spanish government. Puigdemont and other pro-independence deputies then signed a symbolic declaration of independence with no legal effect.[18] Puigdemont's move came after pressure resulting from the business exit on the previous days as well as pleas from Barcelona's mayor Ada Colau and European Council President Donald Tusk urging him to step back from declaring independence.[19] This was met with disappointment from thousands of pro-independence supporters who had gathered nearby to watch the session on giant screens,[118] as well as criticism from the CUP, who voiced their discontent at Puigdemont's decision not to proclaim a Catalan republic right away and did not rule out abandoning the Parliament until the signed declaration of independence was effective.[119]

On 17 October, the National Court ordered Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart—leaders of pro-independence groups Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Òmnium Cultural—to be preventively put into jail without bail pending an investigation into alleged sedition for having played central roles in orchestrating massive protests aimed at hindering Civil Guard activity.[21][120][121] They were accused of leading the protest of tens of thousands of people that surrounded the Catalan economy department offices on 20–21 September 2017 heeding a call made by Òmnium Cultural and ANC,[122] during which three vehicles of the Civil Guard were vandalised and their occupants forced to flee into the Economy Department building, a court clerk remained trapped until midnight inside the building and had to flee by the roof, while several agents were trapped throughout the night as demonstrators shouted outside "You won't get out!".[120][123][124][125][126] The Civil Guard agents cornered into the building made 6 calls for help to the autonomous police force of Catalonia Mossos d'Esquadra which were ignored, the first of them performed at 9:14 am with the subject: "Urgent - Request for support to Mossos".[127] According to the judge the actions of Sànchez and Cruixat are into the scope of sedition, a felony regulated by the article 544 and subsequents of the Spanish Criminal Code:[122][128]

Conviction for sedition shall befall those who, without being included in the felony of rebellion, public and tumultuously rise up to prevent, by force or outside the legal channels, application of the laws, or any authority, official corporation or public officer from lawful exercise of the duties thereof or implementation of the resolutions thereof, or of administrative or judicial resolutions.

— Article 544 of the Spanish Criminal Code.[129]

Pro-independence politicians and organizations, including Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, have referred to Cuixart and Sànchez as political prisoners.[130] The Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catalá argued that they were not "political prisoners" but "imprisoned politicians".[131] An article published in El País argued that according to the criteria established by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Sànchez and Cuixart could not be considered "political prisoners".[122] Amnesty International issued an official statement considering the charge of sedition and the preventive imprisonment as "excessive" and called for their immediate release, but several days later made it clear that it did not consider them "political prisoners".[132][133] Some Catalan media, such as La Vanguardia, reported that footage from the incident showed Cuixart and Sànchez trying to call off the protests, contradicting that part of the judicial order imprisoning them which said that they had not tried "to call off the demonstration".[134]

Independence declaration and direct rule edit

See also: Catalan declaration of independence

On 11 October, after a special cabinet meeting intended to address the events on the previous day, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced he was formally requiring the Catalan government to confirm whether it had declared independence before 16 October at 10 am, with a further 3-day deadline until 19 October to revoke all deemed illegal acts if an affirmative answer—or no answer at all—was obtained.[135] This requirement was a formal requisite needed to trigger article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, a so-called "nuclear option" that would allow the Spanish government to suspend Catalonia's political autonomy and impose direct rule from Madrid.[136][137][138] Pressure mounted within the pro-independence coalition as the Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) demanded an unambiguous affirmation of Catalan independence, threatening to withdraw its parliamentary support from Puigdemont's government if he rescinded his independence claim.[citation needed] In his formal response to Rajoy's requirement hurrying the initial five-day deadline, Puigdemont failed to clarify whether independence had been declared and instead called for negotiations over the following two months.[20][139] The Spanish government replied that this was not a valid response to its requirement and doubted that Puigdemont's offer for dialogue was sincere due to his lack of "clarity".[140][141] The refusal from the Catalan government to either confirm or deny independence triggered a second deadline for them to backtrack before direct rule was imposed.[142][143] The Spanish government subsequently offered to abort the incoming move to suspend self-rule if the Catalan government called for a regional election, but this was ruled out by the latter.[144]

If a self-governing community does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain, the government may take all measures necessary to compel the community to meet said obligations, or to protect the above-mentioned general interest.

— Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978.[22]

On 19 October, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy confirmed that the Spanish government would trigger Article 155 and move to suspend Catalonia's autonomy after a cabinet meeting scheduled for 21 October, following a letter from Puigdemont in which he said that the independence declaration remained suspended but that the Catalan parliament could choose to vote on it if Spain continued its "repression".[22] Subsequently, Rajoy announced the Spanish government would take direct control over the Generalitat of Catalonia, proceeding to remove Puigdemont and the entire Catalan government from their offices and call a regional election within six months, pending Senate approval.[23][24][25]

 
Special Senate Commission on the Invocation of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution (presidency).

On 26 October, one day ahead of the scheduled enforcement of Article 155 by the Spanish Senate, it was announced that Puigdemont had chosen to dissolve the Parliament of Catalonia within the coming hours and call for an emergency snap election on or around 20 December in order to prevent direct rule from Madrid.[145] This move sparked an outcry within pro-independence ranks, as they wished to hold a vote for a unilateral declaration of independence in response to the Spanish government's move to trigger Article 155.[146][147] In the end Puigdemont chose not to dissolve Parliament, allegedly because of the Spanish government's refusal to call off the Article 155 procedure even though an election was called by Puigdemont.[148][149] A debate over a possible declaration of independence then went ahead as planned in the Parliament of Catalonia later that day and into the next morning,[29] simultaneous to the Spanish Senate debating the enforcement of Article 155.[30] At the end of the debate, the Catalan parliament voted for a unilateral declaration of independence, by secret ballot, which was backed 70–10, with two MPs casting a blank ballot, with all MPs from Citizens, the Socialists' Party of Catalonia and the People's Party boycotting the vote because of its illegality for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain, as the lawyers of the Parliament of Catalonia warned.[27][150] Soon after that, the Senate of Spain approved the activation of article 155 of the Constitution for Catalonia in a 214–47 vote, with one abstention.[151]

 
Demonstration under the slogan "Freedom for Political Prisoners, We are a Republic" on 11 November 2017

Subsequently, on 28 October,[31] Mariano Rajoy dismissed the Executive Council of Catalonia, dissolved the Parliament of Catalonia and called a snap regional election for 21 December 2017[152] and handed coordination over Generalitat of Catalonia functions to Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría.[153][154] On 30 October, as Spanish Attorney General José Manuel Maza called for charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement against Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders,[34][35] it transpired that the ousted President and five of his ministers had fled to Belgium.[33] Puigdemont, however, declared that he was not in Belgium "to seek asylum" and that he would respect the 21 December election, but also noting that he would not return home until "a fair judicial process was guaranteed" in Spain.[155][156] Concurrently, lack of civil unrest and work resuming as normal throughout Catalonia showed direct rule from Madrid taking hold, with Spanish authorities reasserting administrative control over Catalan territory with little resistance.[157][158] On 31 October, the independence declaration was suspended by the Constitutional Court of Spain.[159]

Spain's National Court (Spanish: Audiencia Nacional) summoned Puigdemont and 13 other members of his dismissed government to appear on 2 November to respond to the criminal charges pressed against them.[36] It was later ordered by the judge that eight members of the deposed Catalan government—including Puigdemont's deputy and ERC leader, Oriol Junqueras—be remanded in custody without bail after testifying for posing a flight risk, with a ninth—Santi Vila—being granted a €50,000 bail. Spanish prosecutors sought a European Arrest Warrant for Puigdemont and four other members who had remained in Belgium and refused to attend the hearing.[160][161] The EAW demanding Puigdemont and his allies' arrest was officially issued to Belgium the next day, on 3 November, which Belgium said they would "study" before making any decisions.[162] The detention of the former Generalitat members led to increased protests in Catalonia, with thousands calling for "freedom" for whom they viewed as "political prisoners". Puigdemont declared from an undisclosed location in Belgium that he regarded the detentions as "an act that breaks with the basic principles of democracy".[163] In contrast, a separate case against other Catalan lawmakers was adjourned by the Supreme Court (Spanish: Tribunal Supremo) after all six of them, including Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell, showed up to the summons.[164] Puigdemont and the four other cabinet members turned themselves in to Belgian authorities on 5 November, awaiting a decision by the federal prosecutor on whether to hand them over to Spain or decline the warrant.[165] They were released by the judge on the same day on conditions, such as they would not be able to leave the country without prior consent and would have to provide details to the police about their accommodation.[166] On 5 December, six jailed members of the deposed government were freed on bail, while four others, including Oriol Junqueras, were required to remain imprisoned.[167] The next day, Spain withdrew the EAW against Puigdemont just over a month after issuing it to Belgian authorities.[168] On 18 November, while in office, Attorney General José Manuel Maza suddenly died[169][170] and was succeeded ad interim by Luis Navajas[171] until the appointment on 11 December of Julián Sánchez Melgar.[172]

Regional election and investiture edit

Main article: Catalan regional election, 2017
 
Lawyers Jessica Jones, Ben Emmerson and Rachel Lindon take case of Catalonia's jailed politicians to the United Nations, February 2018

The 21 December regional election called by Rajoy resulted in pro-independence parties retaining a reduced majority with 70 seats overall, with Puigdemont's coalition, Together for Catalonia, performing above expectations.[173][174][175] With 36 seats, the main anti-independence party, Citizens, emerged as the largest in the Parliament,[176] whereas Rajoy's People's Party was severely mauled after being reduced to 4.2% of the share and 4 out of 135 seats.[177]

Inés Arrimadas, Citizens' leader in the region, announced she would not try to form a government on her own, instead waiting and see how negotiations between pro-independence parties evolved, due to them commanding a majority against her hypothetical candidacy.[178] As the candidate of the most-voted party within the pro-independence bloc, Puigdemont intended to be re-elected as president, but this was hampered by the fact he risked being arrested by Spanish authorities upon returning from Brussels. Further, pro-independence parties could only command 62 seats—six short of a majority—as in practice eight of their elected deputies were either in Brussels with Puigdemont or in preventive detention.[179]

After the Catalan parliament elected Roger Torrent as new speaker, Puigdemont was proposed as candidate for re-election as President of the Generalitat.[180] However, facing arrest on possible charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, the Catalan parliament delayed Puigdemont's investiture after Constitutional Court ruled that he could not assume the presidency from abroad.[181][182][183] With other pro-independence leaders assuring the pro-independence movement should outlive Puigdemont in order to end the political deadlock,[184] the former Catalan president announced on 1 March he would step his claim aside in order to allow detained activist Jordi Sànchez, from his Together for Catalonia alliance, to become president instead.[185] However, as Spain's Supreme Court did not allow Sànchez to be freed from jail to attend his investiture ceremony,[186][187] Sànchez ended up giving up his candidacy on 21 March in favour of former Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull, who was also under investigation for his role in the referendum.[188][189]

 
Protest march in Barcelona in support of Carles Puigdemont on 15 April 2018

Turull was defeated in the first ballot of a hastily convened investiture session held on 22 March, with only his Together for Catalonia alliance and ERC voting for him and the Popular Unity Candidacy abstaining, resulting in a 64–65 defeat. The next day and less than 24 hours before he was due to attend the second ballot, the Supreme Court announced that thirteen senior Catalan leaders—including Turull—would be charged with rebellion over their roles in the 2017 unilateral referendum and subsequent declaration of independence.[190] Llarena sent five of them, including Turull and Carme Forcadell, previous Catalan Parliament speaker, to preventive jail; being the others already in preventive jail or exile. In anticipation of this ruling and in order to avoid appearing in court, Marta Rovira—ERC's general secretary and deputy leader to jailed Oriol Junqueras—fled the country to Switzerland in self-exile.[191] As a result, the Parliament speaker Roger Torrent cancelled Turull's second investiture ballot.[192] Thousands took the streets of dozens of Catalan cities to show discomfort with the decision of the court.[193]

The European Arrest Warrant against Puigdemont was reactivated just as he was in a visit to Finland, but he had already left the country for Belgium before Finnish authorities received it.[194] On his way to Belgium on 25 March he was caught and detained in Germany while crossing the border from Denmark.[195][196] On 4 April he was released on bail after the state court in Schleswig rejected extraditing him for rebellion, though he may still be extradited on corruption charges.[197][198] Ultimately, though, Spain dropped its European arrest warrant, ending the extradition attempt.[199] Puigdemont was once again free to travel, and chose to return to Belgium.

Alleged international interference edit

See also: Reactions to the Catalan independence referendum, 2017

Many messages and operations that were seen via social networks come from Russian territory. And I use the correct expression: from Russian territory. That's not to say necessarily that we have determined that it is the Russian government. As such, we must act with extreme caution. We have to be clear on the origins. They are partly from Russian territory, partly from elsewhere, also outside the EU. We are determining this at the current time.

—Spanish Defence Minister María Dolores de Cospedal.[200][201]

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Catalonia's independence referendum as "illegal".[202] However, an analysis by the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs of over five million social media messages found that some Russian media and accounts on social networks related to Venezuela allegedly collaborated on disseminating negative propaganda against the Spanish government days before and after the referendum. Russia's RT and Sputnik would use Venezuelan social bots that would typically promote the Bolivarian government in Venezuela to criticize the Spanish government and police violence against citizens in Catalonia.[203] Social bots, anonymous accounts and official state media accounts shared 97% of the anti-Spain messages while only 3% of the messages were shared by real social media members. Leaders of the George Washington University study displayed concern about the findings, stating that "democratic systems have the obligation to investigate these signs and implement systematic methods of monitoring and responding to alleged disruptions of foreign agents" and that it appeared the authors of the propaganda are the same as the ones who allegedly interfered in the 2016 United States presidential election and Brexit.[203]

The Spanish Ministry of Defence and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation later said it had confirmed that Russian actors and Venezuela had attempted to destabilize the nation and Europe by means of propaganda, though it would not confirm if the Russian government was directly involved and warned that similar misinformation actions may take place in future elections.[204][205] NATO officials also made comments stating that Russia has been attempting to undermine Western governments through disinformation campaigns.[205][206]

Members of Catalonia's separatist groups have denied allegations of foreign interference.[205] Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in response: "Probably they are arranging this kind of scandalous, sensational hysteria in order to distract the attention of their electorate from their inability to resolve their problems at home."[207] Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on 15 November: "The Spanish authorities, NATO, and the newspapers did not bring up a single worthwhile argument to back these claims. We consider these claims to be groundless, and more likely a deliberate or inadvertent continuation of the same hysteria that is now happening in the United States and a number of other countries."[207]

According to the investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), in Barcelona on the evening of 26 October 2017, the day before the unilateral declaration of independence by the Parliament of Catalonia, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont met with the envoys of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Led by businessman Nikolay Sadovnikov, the Russian emissaries offered to give the Catalan government 10,000 armed Russian soldiers for the fight for independence against the Spanish state as well as an improbable sum of $500 billion in aid to pay all the Catalan debt. In return for their support, the Russian delegation requested that the Catalan government passes the necessary legislation to turn Catalonia into a new Switzerland of cryptocurrency. Although the meeting ended without a deal, the relationship between the Russians and the Catalan government has continued even after the failure of the push for independence with Puigdemont's associate, Víctor Terradellas, as the main interlocutor.[208][209]

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January 01, 1970
2017, 2018, spanish, constitutional, crisis, constitutional, crisis, took, place, spain, from, 2017, 2018, result, political, conflict, between, government, spain, generalitat, catalunya, under, then, president, carles, puigdemont, government, autonomous, comm. A constitutional crisis took place in Spain from 2017 to 2018 as the result of a political conflict between the Government of Spain and the Generalitat de Catalunya under the then President Carles Puigdemont the government of the autonomous community of Catalonia until 28 October 2017 over the issue of Catalan independence It started after the law intending to allow the 2017 Catalan independence referendum was denounced by the Spanish government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and subsequently suspended by the Constitutional Court until it ruled on the issue 7 8 Some international media outlets have described the events as one of the worst political crises in modern Spanish history 9 2017 2018 Spanish constitutional crisisPart of the Catalan independence movementCrowd protesting in front of the Catalan ministry for Economy and Finance top polling station on 1 October middle left Carles Puigdemont presenting the Catalan declaration of independence middle right Mariano Rajoy announcing the enforcement of direct rule bottom Date6 September 2017 1 June 2018 8 months 3 weeks and 5 days LocationSpain primarily Catalonia some events throughout Europe Caused byGovernment of Catalonia s refusal to abide by the Constitutional Court s suspension of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum Catalan independence movement MethodsProtests demonstrations civil disobedience civil resistance civil disorder rioting vandalism occupations general strikesResulted inDirect rule enforced for six months Quim Torra elected as new President of the Generalitat of Catalonia with the formation of a new Catalan government ending direct rule Referendum held despite suspension Operation Anubis Street protests throughout Catalonia 2017 Catalan general strike Independence unilaterally declared then annulled by Constitutional Court Article 155 of the Constitution enforced and direct rule imposed over Catalonia Puigdemont and part of his cabinet flee to Belgium to avoid charges Spanish court orders a jail sentence to 8 of Puigdemont s cabinet members most later released on bail and EAW against Puigdemont later withdrawn Regional election called for 21 December plurality for anti independence party Cs but pro independence parties retain their majority Total collapse for Rajoy s party Political deadlock in the Parliament of Catalonia over investiture Puigdemont prevented from being elected from abroad Jordi Sanchez dropping bid as a result of detainment Jordi Turull charged with rebellion and put under detention after first failed ballot EAW against Puigdemont reactivated Puigdemont detained in Germany on 25 March 2018 PartiesGeneralitat de Catalunya Executive Council of Catalonia suspended 28 October 2017 17 May 2018 Parliament of Catalonia dissolved 28 October 2017 17 January 2018 Police forces Mossos d Esquadra until 28 October 2017 Parliamentary political groups Together for Yes Catalan European Democratic Party Republican Left of Catalonia Democrats of Catalonia Left Movement Popular Unity Candidacy Together for Catalonia from 13 November 2017 Civil organizations Assemblea Nacional Catalana Omnium Cultural Committees for the Defense of the Republic Kingdom of Spain The Crown Government of Spain Ministry of the Presidency and for Territorial Administrations Ministry of Justice Ministry of Finance and Civil Service Ministry of the Interior Cortes Generales Senate of Spain Judiciary of Spain Supreme Court National Court Attorney General High Court of Justice of Catalonia Constitutional Court of Spain Police forces National Police Corps Police Intervention Units Civil Guard Mossos d Esquadra since 28 October 2017 Municipal Police Corps Barcelona Urban Guard Parliamentary political groups People s Party People s Party of Catalonia Spanish Socialist Workers Party Socialists Party of Catalonia Citizens Party of the Citizenry Civil organizations Societat Civil CatalanaLead figuresCarles Puigdemont Oriol Junqueras detainee Joaquim Forn detainee Jordi Turull detainee Carme Forcadell detainee Josep Lluis Trapero until 28 October 2017 Anna Gabriel Carles Riera Roger Torrent from 17 January 2018 Quim Torra from 17 May 2018 Jordi Sanchez detainee Jordi Cuixart detainee Elisenda Paluzie since 24 March 2018 King Felipe VI Mariano Rajoy Soraya Saenz de Santamaria Rafael Catala Cristobal Montoro Juan Ignacio Zoido Jose Manuel Maza until 18 November 2017 Julian Sanchez Melgar 2017 2018 Diego Perez de los Cobos Pedro Sanchez Albert Rivera Ines Arrimadas Miquel Iceta Xavier Garcia AlbiolNumberCatalan police force 17 000 until 28 October 2017 1 Police detachment in Catalonia 12 000 2 3 Catalan police force 17 000 from 28 October 2017 1 Casualties and lossesCivilians injured 1 066 according to the Catalan Health Department 4 Detained 18 in Catalonia citation needed Arrested 10 Agents injured 111 according to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior 5 6 12 according to the Catalan Health Department 4 Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart were both arrested on 17 October 2017 Senior Generalitat figures were officially dismissed from office on 28 October 2017 after direct rule was enforced Puigdemont s government announced that neither central Spanish authorities nor the courts would halt their plans and that it intended to hold the vote anyway sparking a legal backlash that quickly spread from the Spanish and Catalan governments to Catalan municipalities as local mayors were urged by the Generalitat to provide logistical support and help for the electoral process to be carried out as well as to the Constitutional Court the High Court of Justice of Catalonia and state prosecutors 7 10 11 By 15 September as pro Catalan independence parties began their referendum campaigns the Spanish government had launched an all out legal offensive to thwart the upcoming vote including threats of a financial takeover of much of the Catalan budget police seizing pro referendum posters pamphlets and leaflets which had been regarded as illegal and criminal investigations ordered on the over 700 local mayors who had publicly agreed to help stage the referendum 12 13 Tensions between the two sides reached a critical point after Spanish police raided the Catalan government headquarters in Barcelona on 20 September at the start of Operation Anubis and arrested fourteen senior Catalan officials This led to protests outside the Catalan economy department which saw Civil Guard officers trapped inside the building for hours and several vehicles vandalized 14 The referendum was eventually held albeit without meeting minimum standards for elections and amid low turnout and a police crackdown ended with hundreds injured 15 16 Also Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that up to 431 officers were injured bruised or even bitten 17 On 10 October Puigdemont ambiguously declared and suspended independence during a speech in the Parliament of Catalonia arguing his move was directed at entering talks with Spain 18 19 The Spanish government required Puigdemont to clarify whether he had declared independence or not to which it received no clear answer 20 A further requirement was met with an implicit threat from the Generalitat that it would lift the suspension on the independence declaration if Spain continued its repression in response to the imprisonment of the leaders of pro independence Catalan National Assembly ANC and Omnium Cultural accused of sedition by the National Court because of their involvement in the 20 September events 21 22 On 21 October it was announced by Prime Minister Rajoy that Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution would be invoked leading to direct rule over Catalonia by the Spanish government once approved by the Senate 23 24 25 On 27 October the Catalan parliament voted in a secret ballot to unilaterally declare independence from Spain with most deputies of the opposition boycotting a vote considered illegal for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain as the lawyers of the Parliament of Catalonia warned 26 27 28 As a result the government of Spain invoked the Constitution to remove the regional authorities and enforce direct rule the next day 29 30 31 with a regional election being subsequently called for 21 December 2017 to elect a new Parliament of Catalonia 32 Puigdemont and part of his cabinet fled to Belgium after being ousted 33 as the Spanish Attorney General pressed for charges of sedition rebellion and misuse of public funds against them 34 35 36 Contents 1 Background 2 Start of crisis 2 1 Referendum suspended 2 2 Judicial and police action 3 Development 3 1 Referendum and subsequent events 3 2 Independence declaration and direct rule 3 3 Regional election and investiture 4 Alleged international interference 5 ReferencesBackground editThe recent increase in support for Catalan independence has its roots in a Constitutional Court ruling in 2010 which struck down parts of the regional 2006 Statute of Autonomy that granted new powers of self rule to the region The ruling came after four years of deliberation concerning a constitutional appeal filed by the conservative People s Party PP under Mariano Rajoy then the country s second largest party in opposition to the government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero s Spanish Socialist Workers Party and was met with anger and street protests in Catalonia 37 38 Shortly afterward the PP took power in Spain and after a massive independence demonstration took place in Barcelona on 11 September 2012 Catalonia s National Day the Catalan government under Artur Mas called a snap regional election and set out to initiate Catalonia s process towards independence 39 After a pro independence coalition formed by the Junts pel Si alliance and the Popular Unity Candidacy won a slim majority in the Parliament in the 2015 regional election Carles Puigdemont replaced Mas as President of the Generalitat Puigdemont promised to organise a binding independence referendum based on results from a multi question non binding vote in 2014 when about 80 of those who voted were believed to have backed independence for the region and up to 91 8 supported Catalonia becoming a state albeit on an estimated turnout around or below 40 40 The Catalan government invoked the right of people to self determination and Catalonia s political economical and cultural background to back up its proposal for a referendum on Catalan independence 41 42 The Government of Spain now with Mariano Rajoy as Prime Minister opposed such a vote arguing that any referendum on Catalan independence would go against the country s 1978 Constitution as it made no provision for a vote on self determination 43 On 9 June 2017 Puigdemont announced that the planned independence referendum would be held on 1 October the same year The Catalan government criticised the attitude of the Spanish government in refusing to negotiate a referendum and accused it of behaving undemocratically 44 Start of crisis editReferendum suspended edit nbsp Pro independence supporters during a rally on 11 September 2017 On 6 September 2017 the ruling Junts pel Si JxSi coalition and its parliamentary partner the Popular Unity Candidacy CUP passed the Law on the Referendum on Self determination of Catalonia in the Parliament of Catalonia that was to provide the legal framework for the intended independence referendum scheduled for 1 October The way in which the law had been pushed through Parliament and the clear unconstitutionality of the law became an issue of controversy 45 Catalan opposition parties accused JxSi and CUP of fast tracking the law through parliament not allowing them to appeal the law before being put up to vote 46 In 2018 the Constitutional Court ruled that the rights of the opposition were indeed undermined 47 Shortly after the parliamentary vote in which most of the opposition MPs walked out from the chamber without voting on the bill the Catalan regional government signed the decree calling the referendum 48 49 On 7 September and under a similar procedure as the previous day pro independence lawmakers in the Parliament of Catalonia passed the Law of transitional jurisprudence and foundation of the Republic aimed at superseding the Spanish Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia with a new legal framework should a simple majority vote Yes to the independence choice with no minimum participation required 50 Besides its unconstitutional character the law was criticized for being approved with a simple majority in contrast with the two thirds needed to reform the Statute of Autonomy or the Spanish Constitution the generous control it afforded the executive power over the new judicial branch and the extensive degree of immunity offered to the president of the new republic 51 52 The People s Party led Spanish government under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that it would appeal the bill to the Constitutional Court which agreed to hear all four of its unconstitutionality appeals and subsequently suspended the law and the referendum until it could rule upon the matter Despite the referendum suspension the Catalan government announced it would proceed with the vote anyway 50 53 This prompted Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza to ask security forces to investigate possible preparations from the Catalan government to hold the vote as well as announcing he would present criminal charges against members of both the regional parliament and government for voting and signing off the referendum The national government proceeded to deploy a series of legal measures intended to nullify the referendum while also warning local councils in Catalonia to either impede or paralyse efforts to carry out the vote 7 48 Previously local mayors had been given 48 hours by the regional government to confirm the availability of polling stations for 1 October 54 55 Within the next two days nearly 74 of Catalan municipalities comprising about 43 of the Catalan population had agreed to provide the necessary polling stations for the referendum whereas many of the most populated urban areas representing 24 of Catalan inhabitants had voiced their opposition to the vote 56 The largest city and capital of Catalonia Barcelona accounting for about 20 of the region s population was caught in the middle with its local mayor Ada Colau refusing to make a statement whether the municipality would provide logistic support to the referendum or not while rejecting putting public servants at risk she however voiced her support for the people s right to vote in a fair and legal referendum 57 58 Concurrently President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont Vice president Oriol Junqueras the entire Catalan government as well as parliamentary officials allowing the referendum law to be put to vote in Parliament including Parliament Speaker Carme Forcadell faced charges of disobedience misusing public funds and making deliberately unlawful decisions as elected officials as the High Court of Justice of Catalonia agreed to hear the criminal complaints filled by state prosecutors 10 59 Judicial and police action edit Main article Operation Anubis nbsp Protests in Barcelona after the arrest of fourteen Catalan government officials on 20 September On 8 September the Attorney General of Catalonia Jose Maria Romero de Tejada presented two complaints to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia TSJC against the Government and the Bureau of Parliament for crimes of disobedience prevarication and misappropriation of public funds as announced the day before by the Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza These complaints included the guarantee request for the members of the Government as well as a request for a notification to all mayors of Catalonia to prevent any personal or material resource including local resources being provided for the celebration of referendum The court was also asked to notify the Catalan media managers of the prohibition of inserting institutional advertising or propaganda of the referendum 60 These complaints were admitted by the TSJC on 14 September without accepting the request for a deposit for the members of the Government 61 A decision on 13 September from Spain s public prosecutors to order a criminal probe of all local mayors who had publicly announced they would help stage the independence referendum totalling over 700 came the day after the Constitutional Court had accepted the Spanish government s request to suspend the second of the two laws that had been approved by the secessionist majority in the Catalan parliament the previous week The probe meant that prosecutors could choose to present criminal charges or even arrest if failing to answer the summons local mayors who disobeyed the Constitutional Court s ruling As part of a series of moves to block the Catalan referendum prosecutors had also instructed police officials to seize ballot boxes election flyers and other items that could be of use in the illegal vote whereas the Constitutional Court had instructed regional government officials to show how they were preventing the vote from going ahead within a 48 hour deadline 62 63 In response the Catalan government sent a letter to Treasury Minister Cristobal Montoro announcing that it would stop sending weekly financial accounts to Spain s central government a previously established obligation that was meant to verify whether the region was using public money for the promotion of its independence drive as well as a requirement for the region s access to a funding programme to autonomous communities established in 2012 64 The Spanish government then proceeded to take direct control of most of Catalonia s invoice payments 65 66 In a search on 19 September Spanish police seized significant election material which had been in store by referendum organizers at the offices of a private delivery company in Terrassa These included voting cards contained in envelopes with the Catalan government s logo 67 The next day the Civil Guard raided Generalitat offices and arrested fourteen senior officials from the Catalan government most notably these included Josep Maria Jove ca deputy to regional Vice president Oriol Junqueras 68 69 This came after mayors from towns supporting the referendum were questioned in court by state prosecutors 70 Regional premier Carles Puigdemont condemned the actions as anti democratic and totalitarian accusing the Spanish government of de facto imposing a state of emergency and of suspending Catalonia s autonomy after it took effective control over Catalan finances 71 Public protests occurred in Barcelona after news of the arrests emerged with left wing political party Podemos and Barcelona mayor Ada Colau joining the growing criticism of Mariano Rajoy s government crackdown on public servants dubbing it as an authoritarian regression The previous day the Congress of Deputies had voted down a motion from Ciudadanos to support the Spanish government s response to the referendum which was rejected by 166 votes to 158 72 43 9 Rajoy defended his government s actions in that What we re seeing in Catalonia is an attempt to eliminate the constitution and the autonomous statute of Catalonia Logically the state has to react There is no democratic state in the world that would accept what these people are trying to do They ve been warned and they know the referendum can t take place 43 Rajoy also called for the Catalonia government to give up its escalation of radicalism and disobedience calling for them to Go back to the law and democracy and dubbing the referendum a chimera as tens of thousands gathered in the streets of Barcelona and other Catalan cities to protest police actions 73 74 The Spanish government did not rule out invoking Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution which would allow the central government to adopt the necessary measures to compel regional authorities to obey the law in practice allowing for the autonomy s effective suspension and direct rule of the region 9 On 21 September the Catalan government acknowledged that the raid and arrests in the previous day severely hampered the referendum s logistics by preventing any alternative election data centre to be established in time for the vote to take place 75 Nonetheless Catalan Vice president Junqueras called for people to turn out and mobilise on 1 October turning the social response into a censure motion to Rajoy stating that If there is any possibility of change in Spain democracy must triumph in Catalonia 76 77 As street protests continued throughout Catalonia additional police reinforcements were sent by the Spanish government to block any moves to hold the referendum on 1 October 78 79 Spanish prosecutors formally accused some protesters in Barcelona of sedition after several Civil Guard patrol cars had been vandalised on Wednesday night 14 By 23 September the Spanish government announced that the Mossos d Esquadra the regional police force were to be subordinated to a single command dependent of the Spanish government and that the Interior Ministry would assume co ordination over all security forces in Catalonia 80 The previous day several hundred students had announced a permanent occupation of the historic building of the University of Barcelona protesting the state s actions 81 82 83 Development editReferendum and subsequent events edit See also Catalan independence referendum 2017 and 2017 Catalan general strike nbsp Demonstration in Barcelona during the general strike held in Catalonia on 3 October 2017 Despite the suspension the Catalan referendum was held on 1 October 2017 as scheduled by the Generalitat The absention rate was 58 with the 2 044 038 voters in favour of independence amounting to 39 of all 5 313 564 registered voters 84 Over 12 000 officers from the National Police Corps and the Civil Guard were deployed throughout Catalonia in an effort to close off polling stations and seize all election material to prevent the vote from taking place 2 The Spanish government was forced to call off police raids after clashes with protesters resulted in two people seriously injured one for a gum ball shot against the eye and the other one due to a heart attack 893 civilians and 111 agents of the Nacional Police and the Civil Guard were reported to have been injured 85 86 5 6 According to some Spanish media these previously reported figures may have been exaggerated 87 88 89 90 The Guardian s columnist Peter Preston said the number of injured hadn t been independently checked while he still described the police action as violent and frightening 91 However the Official College of Doctors of Barcelona Col legi de Metges de Barcelona stated that professionalism and independence of doctors can not be questioned because they act under a deontological code to attend and diagnose patients 92 The judge who is currently investigating the accusations of police violence had already identified 218 people injured on 10 October 20 of whom were police officers 93 94 The events of 1 October sparked a public outcry in Catalonia with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to protest Spanish police violence 95 nbsp Demonstration in Manresa on 3 October 2017 On 3 October 2017 as huge protest rallies and a general strike took place in Catalonia King Felipe VI delivered an unusually strongly worded televised address in which he condemned the referendum organizers for acting outside the law accusing them of unacceptable disloyalty and of eroding the harmony and co existence within Catalan society itself He also warned the referendum could put the economy of the entire north east region of Spain at risk 95 96 97 Reactions to the King s speech were mixed Party officials from the PP and Ciudadanos praised the King s commitment to legality 98 whereas leaders from Unidos Podemos and Catalunya en Comu criticised it as unworthy and irresponsible paving the way for a harsh intervention in Catalan autonomy 99 PSOE s leaders expressed support for the King s words in public but were reported to be privately dissatisfied that the King had not made any call to encourage understanding or dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan governments 100 On 5 October the Constitutional Court of Spain suspended a future session of the Catalan Parliament scheduled for 9 October that had been planned to push for a Declaration of Independence 101 On 5 October Banco Sabadell the second largest bank based in Catalonia announced its decision to move its legal headquarters out of the region amid economic uncertainty over the future of Catalonia s political situation ahead of a projected unilateral declaration of independence the ensuing week which had seen sharp falls in the group s share prices the previous day and rating agencies downgrading the region Concurrently CaixaBank the biggest bank in the region and the third largest in Spain also announced it was considering redomiciling outside Catalonia 102 103 104 This sparked a massive business exit in the ensuing hours with companies such as Abertis Gas Natural Grifols Fersa Energias Renovables Agbar Freixenet Codorniu Idilia Foods San Miguel Beer and Planeta Group also announcing or considering their intention to move their HQs out of Catalonia The Spanish government announced on Friday 6 October that it would issue a decree allowing companies based in Catalonia to move out of the region without holding a shareholders meeting 105 106 107 108 On 11 October Chateau de Montsoreau Museum of Contemporary Art announced that it was repatriating its collection of Art amp Language works on loan at Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art MACBA since 2010 109 110 Within two weeks more than 1 000 business and firms would move out of Catalonia 111 nbsp Demonstration against Catalan independence in Barcelona on 8 October 2017 On 7 October tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Madrid and Barcelona dressed in white and without flags with the slogan Shall we talk asking for a deescalation of the political conflict 112 On 8 October the largest demonstration against Catalan independence in recent Spanish history took place in Barcelona the local police estimating at about 400 000 the number of participants 113 Later High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa and several representatives of the opposition parties in the Catalan parliament delivered speeches against the independence process 114 Simultaneously pro unity groups increasingly took to the streets throughout Spain with some gatherings leading to scuffles in Barcelona and Valencia The Mossos d Esquadra were put under investigation for disobedience accused of not complying with a command from the High Court of Justice of Catalonia to prevent the referendum and with their passivity allowing polling stations to open 115 116 117 In an ambiguous speech during a parliamentary session in the Parliament of Catalonia on 10 October Puigdemont declared that Catalonia had earned the right to be an independent state and that he defended the mandate of the people of Catalonia to become an independent republic However he immediately announced that parliament would suspend a formal declaration of independence in order to pursue dialogue with the Spanish government Puigdemont and other pro independence deputies then signed a symbolic declaration of independence with no legal effect 18 Puigdemont s move came after pressure resulting from the business exit on the previous days as well as pleas from Barcelona s mayor Ada Colau and European Council President Donald Tusk urging him to step back from declaring independence 19 This was met with disappointment from thousands of pro independence supporters who had gathered nearby to watch the session on giant screens 118 as well as criticism from the CUP who voiced their discontent at Puigdemont s decision not to proclaim a Catalan republic right away and did not rule out abandoning the Parliament until the signed declaration of independence was effective 119 On 17 October the National Court ordered Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart leaders of pro independence groups Catalan National Assembly ANC and Omnium Cultural to be preventively put into jail without bail pending an investigation into alleged sedition for having played central roles in orchestrating massive protests aimed at hindering Civil Guard activity 21 120 121 They were accused of leading the protest of tens of thousands of people that surrounded the Catalan economy department offices on 20 21 September 2017 heeding a call made by Omnium Cultural and ANC 122 during which three vehicles of the Civil Guard were vandalised and their occupants forced to flee into the Economy Department building a court clerk remained trapped until midnight inside the building and had to flee by the roof while several agents were trapped throughout the night as demonstrators shouted outside You won t get out 120 123 124 125 126 The Civil Guard agents cornered into the building made 6 calls for help to the autonomous police force of Catalonia Mossos d Esquadra which were ignored the first of them performed at 9 14 am with the subject Urgent Request for support to Mossos 127 According to the judge the actions of Sanchez and Cruixat are into the scope of sedition a felony regulated by the article 544 and subsequents of the Spanish Criminal Code 122 128 Conviction for sedition shall befall those who without being included in the felony of rebellion public and tumultuously rise up to prevent by force or outside the legal channels application of the laws or any authority official corporation or public officer from lawful exercise of the duties thereof or implementation of the resolutions thereof or of administrative or judicial resolutions Article 544 of the Spanish Criminal Code 129 Pro independence politicians and organizations including Catalan President Carles Puigdemont have referred to Cuixart and Sanchez as political prisoners 130 The Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala argued that they were not political prisoners but imprisoned politicians 131 An article published in El Pais argued that according to the criteria established by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe PACE Sanchez and Cuixart could not be considered political prisoners 122 Amnesty International issued an official statement considering the charge of sedition and the preventive imprisonment as excessive and called for their immediate release but several days later made it clear that it did not consider them political prisoners 132 133 Some Catalan media such as La Vanguardia reported that footage from the incident showed Cuixart and Sanchez trying to call off the protests contradicting that part of the judicial order imprisoning them which said that they had not tried to call off the demonstration 134 Independence declaration and direct rule edit See also Catalan declaration of independence On 11 October after a special cabinet meeting intended to address the events on the previous day Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced he was formally requiring the Catalan government to confirm whether it had declared independence before 16 October at 10 am with a further 3 day deadline until 19 October to revoke all deemed illegal acts if an affirmative answer or no answer at all was obtained 135 This requirement was a formal requisite needed to trigger article 155 of the Spanish Constitution a so called nuclear option that would allow the Spanish government to suspend Catalonia s political autonomy and impose direct rule from Madrid 136 137 138 Pressure mounted within the pro independence coalition as the Popular Unity Candidacy CUP demanded an unambiguous affirmation of Catalan independence threatening to withdraw its parliamentary support from Puigdemont s government if he rescinded his independence claim citation needed In his formal response to Rajoy s requirement hurrying the initial five day deadline Puigdemont failed to clarify whether independence had been declared and instead called for negotiations over the following two months 20 139 The Spanish government replied that this was not a valid response to its requirement and doubted that Puigdemont s offer for dialogue was sincere due to his lack of clarity 140 141 The refusal from the Catalan government to either confirm or deny independence triggered a second deadline for them to backtrack before direct rule was imposed 142 143 The Spanish government subsequently offered to abort the incoming move to suspend self rule if the Catalan government called for a regional election but this was ruled out by the latter 144 If a self governing community does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain the government may take all measures necessary to compel the community to meet said obligations or to protect the above mentioned general interest Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 22 On 19 October Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy confirmed that the Spanish government would trigger Article 155 and move to suspend Catalonia s autonomy after a cabinet meeting scheduled for 21 October following a letter from Puigdemont in which he said that the independence declaration remained suspended but that the Catalan parliament could choose to vote on it if Spain continued its repression 22 Subsequently Rajoy announced the Spanish government would take direct control over the Generalitat of Catalonia proceeding to remove Puigdemont and the entire Catalan government from their offices and call a regional election within six months pending Senate approval 23 24 25 nbsp Special Senate Commission on the Invocation of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution presidency On 26 October one day ahead of the scheduled enforcement of Article 155 by the Spanish Senate it was announced that Puigdemont had chosen to dissolve the Parliament of Catalonia within the coming hours and call for an emergency snap election on or around 20 December in order to prevent direct rule from Madrid 145 This move sparked an outcry within pro independence ranks as they wished to hold a vote for a unilateral declaration of independence in response to the Spanish government s move to trigger Article 155 146 147 In the end Puigdemont chose not to dissolve Parliament allegedly because of the Spanish government s refusal to call off the Article 155 procedure even though an election was called by Puigdemont 148 149 A debate over a possible declaration of independence then went ahead as planned in the Parliament of Catalonia later that day and into the next morning 29 simultaneous to the Spanish Senate debating the enforcement of Article 155 30 At the end of the debate the Catalan parliament voted for a unilateral declaration of independence by secret ballot which was backed 70 10 with two MPs casting a blank ballot with all MPs from Citizens the Socialists Party of Catalonia and the People s Party boycotting the vote because of its illegality for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain as the lawyers of the Parliament of Catalonia warned 27 150 Soon after that the Senate of Spain approved the activation of article 155 of the Constitution for Catalonia in a 214 47 vote with one abstention 151 nbsp Demonstration under the slogan Freedom for Political Prisoners We are a Republic on 11 November 2017 Subsequently on 28 October 31 Mariano Rajoy dismissed the Executive Council of Catalonia dissolved the Parliament of Catalonia and called a snap regional election for 21 December 2017 152 and handed coordination over Generalitat of Catalonia functions to Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria 153 154 On 30 October as Spanish Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza called for charges of rebellion sedition and embezzlement against Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders 34 35 it transpired that the ousted President and five of his ministers had fled to Belgium 33 Puigdemont however declared that he was not in Belgium to seek asylum and that he would respect the 21 December election but also noting that he would not return home until a fair judicial process was guaranteed in Spain 155 156 Concurrently lack of civil unrest and work resuming as normal throughout Catalonia showed direct rule from Madrid taking hold with Spanish authorities reasserting administrative control over Catalan territory with little resistance 157 158 On 31 October the independence declaration was suspended by the Constitutional Court of Spain 159 Spain s National Court Spanish Audiencia Nacional summoned Puigdemont and 13 other members of his dismissed government to appear on 2 November to respond to the criminal charges pressed against them 36 It was later ordered by the judge that eight members of the deposed Catalan government including Puigdemont s deputy and ERC leader Oriol Junqueras be remanded in custody without bail after testifying for posing a flight risk with a ninth Santi Vila being granted a 50 000 bail Spanish prosecutors sought a European Arrest Warrant for Puigdemont and four other members who had remained in Belgium and refused to attend the hearing 160 161 The EAW demanding Puigdemont and his allies arrest was officially issued to Belgium the next day on 3 November which Belgium said they would study before making any decisions 162 The detention of the former Generalitat members led to increased protests in Catalonia with thousands calling for freedom for whom they viewed as political prisoners Puigdemont declared from an undisclosed location in Belgium that he regarded the detentions as an act that breaks with the basic principles of democracy 163 In contrast a separate case against other Catalan lawmakers was adjourned by the Supreme Court Spanish Tribunal Supremo after all six of them including Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell showed up to the summons 164 Puigdemont and the four other cabinet members turned themselves in to Belgian authorities on 5 November awaiting a decision by the federal prosecutor on whether to hand them over to Spain or decline the warrant 165 They were released by the judge on the same day on conditions such as they would not be able to leave the country without prior consent and would have to provide details to the police about their accommodation 166 On 5 December six jailed members of the deposed government were freed on bail while four others including Oriol Junqueras were required to remain imprisoned 167 The next day Spain withdrew the EAW against Puigdemont just over a month after issuing it to Belgian authorities 168 On 18 November while in office Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza suddenly died 169 170 and was succeeded ad interim by Luis Navajas 171 until the appointment on 11 December of Julian Sanchez Melgar 172 Regional election and investiture edit Main article Catalan regional election 2017 nbsp Lawyers Jessica Jones Ben Emmerson and Rachel Lindon take case of Catalonia s jailed politicians to the United Nations February 2018 The 21 December regional election called by Rajoy resulted in pro independence parties retaining a reduced majority with 70 seats overall with Puigdemont s coalition Together for Catalonia performing above expectations 173 174 175 With 36 seats the main anti independence party Citizens emerged as the largest in the Parliament 176 whereas Rajoy s People s Party was severely mauled after being reduced to 4 2 of the share and 4 out of 135 seats 177 Ines Arrimadas Citizens leader in the region announced she would not try to form a government on her own instead waiting and see how negotiations between pro independence parties evolved due to them commanding a majority against her hypothetical candidacy 178 As the candidate of the most voted party within the pro independence bloc Puigdemont intended to be re elected as president but this was hampered by the fact he risked being arrested by Spanish authorities upon returning from Brussels Further pro independence parties could only command 62 seats six short of a majority as in practice eight of their elected deputies were either in Brussels with Puigdemont or in preventive detention 179 After the Catalan parliament elected Roger Torrent as new speaker Puigdemont was proposed as candidate for re election as President of the Generalitat 180 However facing arrest on possible charges of rebellion sedition and misuse of public funds the Catalan parliament delayed Puigdemont s investiture after Constitutional Court ruled that he could not assume the presidency from abroad 181 182 183 With other pro independence leaders assuring the pro independence movement should outlive Puigdemont in order to end the political deadlock 184 the former Catalan president announced on 1 March he would step his claim aside in order to allow detained activist Jordi Sanchez from his Together for Catalonia alliance to become president instead 185 However as Spain s Supreme Court did not allow Sanchez to be freed from jail to attend his investiture ceremony 186 187 Sanchez ended up giving up his candidacy on 21 March in favour of former Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull who was also under investigation for his role in the referendum 188 189 nbsp Protest march in Barcelona in support of Carles Puigdemont on 15 April 2018 Turull was defeated in the first ballot of a hastily convened investiture session held on 22 March with only his Together for Catalonia alliance and ERC voting for him and the Popular Unity Candidacy abstaining resulting in a 64 65 defeat The next day and less than 24 hours before he was due to attend the second ballot the Supreme Court announced that thirteen senior Catalan leaders including Turull would be charged with rebellion over their roles in the 2017 unilateral referendum and subsequent declaration of independence 190 Llarena sent five of them including Turull and Carme Forcadell previous Catalan Parliament speaker to preventive jail being the others already in preventive jail or exile In anticipation of this ruling and in order to avoid appearing in court Marta Rovira ERC s general secretary and deputy leader to jailed Oriol Junqueras fled the country to Switzerland in self exile 191 As a result the Parliament speaker Roger Torrent cancelled Turull s second investiture ballot 192 Thousands took the streets of dozens of Catalan cities to show discomfort with the decision of the court 193 The European Arrest Warrant against Puigdemont was reactivated just as he was in a visit to Finland but he had already left the country for Belgium before Finnish authorities received it 194 On his way to Belgium on 25 March he was caught and detained in Germany while crossing the border from Denmark 195 196 On 4 April he was released on bail after the state court in Schleswig rejected extraditing him for rebellion though he may still be extradited on corruption charges 197 198 Ultimately though Spain dropped its European arrest warrant ending the extradition attempt 199 Puigdemont was once again free to travel and chose to return to Belgium Alleged international interference editSee also Reactions to the Catalan independence referendum 2017 Many messages and operations that were seen via social networks come from Russian territory And I use the correct expression from Russian territory That s not to say necessarily that we have determined that it is the Russian government As such we must act with extreme caution We have to be clear on the origins They are partly from Russian territory partly from elsewhere also outside the EU We are determining this at the current time Spanish Defence Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal 200 201 Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Catalonia s independence referendum as illegal 202 However an analysis by the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs of over five million social media messages found that some Russian media and accounts on social networks related to Venezuela allegedly collaborated on disseminating negative propaganda against the Spanish government days before and after the referendum Russia s RT and Sputnik would use Venezuelan social bots that would typically promote the Bolivarian government in Venezuela to criticize the Spanish government and police violence against citizens in Catalonia 203 Social bots anonymous accounts and official state media accounts shared 97 of the anti Spain messages while only 3 of the messages were shared by real social media members Leaders of the George Washington University study displayed concern about the findings stating that democratic systems have the obligation to investigate these signs and implement systematic methods of monitoring and responding to alleged disruptions of foreign agents and that it appeared the authors of the propaganda are the same as the ones who allegedly interfered in the 2016 United States presidential election and Brexit 203 The Spanish Ministry of Defence and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation later said it had confirmed that Russian actors and Venezuela had attempted to destabilize the nation and Europe by means of propaganda though it would not confirm if the Russian government was directly involved and warned that similar misinformation actions may take place in future elections 204 205 NATO officials also made comments stating that Russia has been attempting to undermine Western governments through disinformation campaigns 205 206 Members of Catalonia s separatist groups have denied allegations of foreign interference 205 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in response Probably they are arranging this kind of scandalous sensational hysteria in order to distract the attention of their electorate from their inability to resolve their problems at home 207 Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on 15 November The Spanish authorities NATO and the newspapers did not bring up a single worthwhile argument to back these claims We consider these claims to be groundless and more likely a deliberate or inadvertent continuation of the same hysteria that is now happening in the United States and a number of other countries 207 According to the investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project OCCRP in Barcelona on the evening of 26 October 2017 the day before the unilateral declaration of independence by the Parliament of Catalonia Catalan president Carles Puigdemont met with the envoys of Russian president Vladimir Putin Led by businessman Nikolay Sadovnikov the Russian emissaries offered to give the Catalan government 10 000 armed Russian soldiers for the fight for independence against the Spanish state as well as an improbable sum of 500 billion in aid to pay all the Catalan debt In return for their support the Russian delegation requested that the Catalan government passes the necessary legislation to turn Catalonia into a new Switzerland of cryptocurrency Although the meeting ended without a deal the relationship between the Russians and the Catalan government has continued even after the failure of the push for independence with Puigdemont s associate Victor Terradellas as the main interlocutor 208 209 References edit a b Sellart Jaume 12 September 2017 Guardia Civil y Policia Nacional movilizan mil antidisturbios mas en Catalunya El Periodico de Catalunya in Spanish Barcelona Retrieved 2 October 2017 a b Agencia EFE 2 October 2017 El despliegue de la Policia Nacional y la Guardia Civil se mantendra en Cataluna 20 minutos in Spanish Retrieved 2 October 2017 Thousands of Spanish police and Civil Guards deploy across Catalonia El Nacional Barcelona 1 October 2017 Retrieved 2 October 2017 a b Balanc de les carregues de l 1 O 1 066 ferits 23 d ells mes grans de 79 anys i dos menors d 11 Nacio Digital in Catalan October 2017 Archived from the original on 22 October 2017 Retrieved 29 October 2017 a b Serra Ot 20 April 2018 El govern espanyol va quadruplicar la xifra d agents ferits l 1 O Ara in Catalan Retrieved 26 April 2018 a b RESPUESTA D EL GOBIERNO 684 37958 Report in Spanish Senado 22 March 2018 Retrieved 20 April 2018 En relacion con la pregunta de referencia se informa que 111 miembros de las Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado fueron contusionados a b c Spain Catalonia Court blocks independence referendum BBC News 8 September 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2017 Strange Hannah 7 September 2017 Spain s constitutional court suspends Catalan referendum law The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 9 September 2017 a b c Stothard Michael 20 September 2017 Spanish national police raid Catalan government headquarters Financial Times Madrid Retrieved 20 September 2017 a b Noguer Miquel Tena Berta 8 September 2017 Prosecutors take action against Catalan officials after referendum law passed El Pais Barcelona Madrid Retrieved 9 September 2017 Catalonia pushes Spain toward crisis The Leader 9 September 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2017 Hedgecoe Guy 15 September 2017 Spain s crisis sharpens as Catalonia referendum campaign begins The Irish Times Madrid Retrieved 18 September 2017 Spanish police confiscate Catalan referendum material Al Jazeera 18 September 2017 Retrieved 18 September 2017 a b Ortega Dolz Patricia Andres Guillen Perez Fernando Jesus 22 September 2017 Spanish prosecutors formally accuse Barcelona protesters of sedition El Pais Barcelona Madrid Retrieved 23 September 2017 More than 700 hurt in Catalonia poll BBC News 1 October 2017 Retrieved 12 February 2020 Vasco Cotovio Isa Soares Hilary Clarke October 2017 Catalonia independence vote descends into chaos CNN Retrieved 12 February 2020 Europa Press 2 October 2017 Interior asegura que 431 policias y guardias civiles resultaron heridos en el dispositivo por el 1 O www europapress es Retrieved 12 February 2020 a b Sanchez Ray Gallon Natalie 10 October 2017 Catalonia s president puts off declaration of split from Spain CNN Barcelona Retrieved 16 October 2017 a b Catalonia independence declaration signed and suspended BBC News 10 October 2017 Retrieved 16 October 2017 a b Catalonia leader Puigdemont fails to clarify independence bid BBC News 16 October 2017 Retrieved 16 October 2017 a b Fotheringham Alasdair 16 October 2017 Catalonia Spanish judge jails two independence leaders for possible sedition The Independent Madrid Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 20 October 2017 a b c Spain moves to suspend Catalan autonomy BBC News 19 October 2017 Retrieved 19 October 2017 a b Ponce de Leon Rodrigo 21 October 2017 Rajoy aprueba la intervencion completa de Catalunya para cesar al Govern y convocar elecciones eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 21 October 2017 a b Burgen Stephen 21 October 2017 Catalonia crisis escalates as Spain set to impose direct rule within days The Guardian Barcelona Retrieved 21 October 2017 a b Catalonia independence Spain pushes to remove leaders BBC News 21 October 2017 Retrieved 21 October 2017 Un Parlament semivacio consuma en voto secreto la rebelion contra el Estado El Mundo in Spanish 27 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 a b Los letrados del Parlament advierten de que la votacion de la DUI es ilegal 20 minutos in Spanish 27 October 2017 Retrieved 28 October 2017 PPC PSC y Ciudadanos abandonaran el Parlament si se vota la resolucion de Junts pel Si y la CUP La Vanguardia in Spanish 27 October 2017 Retrieved 28 October 2017 a b Catalan crisis Regional MPs debate Spain takeover bid BBC 26 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 a b Catalan crisis Spain PM Rajoy demands direct rule BBC 27 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 a b Catalonia s longest week BBC News 4 November 2017 Retrieved 7 November 2017 Catalonia independence Rajoy dissolves Catalan parliament BBC News Barcelona Madrid 27 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 a b Sacked Catalan leader in Belgium BBC News 30 October 2017 Retrieved 31 October 2017 a b Guindal Carlota 30 October 2017 La Fiscalia se querella contra Puigdemont y el Govern por rebelion y sedicion La Vanguardia in Spanish Retrieved 30 October 2017 a b Jones Sam 30 October 2017 Spanish prosecutor calls for rebellion charges against Catalan leaders The Guardian Barcelona Retrieved 30 October 2017 a b Catalan independence Spain high court summons dismissed leader BBC News 31 October 2017 Retrieved 31 October 2017 Spanish Constitutional Court cuts back Catalan Statute of Autonomy Nationalia 29 June 2010 Retrieved 21 September 2017 Govan Fiona 29 June 2010 Catalonia can call itself a nation rules Spain s top court The Daily Telegraph Madrid Retrieved 21 September 2017 Burgen Stephen 11 September 2012 Catalan independence rally brings Barcelona to a standstill The Guardian Barcelona Retrieved 21 September 2017 Jackson Patrick 14 September 2017 Catalonia s collision course with Madrid BBC News Barcelona Madrid Retrieved 15 September 2017 Jones Sam 9 June 2017 Catalonia calls independence referendum for October The Guardian Madrid Retrieved 20 September 2017 Catalonia plans an independence vote whether Spain lets it or not The Economist Madrid 15 July 2017 Retrieved 20 September 2017 a b c Jones Sam Burgen Stephen 20 September 2017 Catalan president says Madrid is suspending region s autonomy The Guardian Madrid Barcelona Retrieved 20 September 2017 Catalonia to hold self determination referendum on October 1 2017 Barcelona Catalan News Agency 9 June 2017 Retrieved 20 September 2017 6 y 7 de septiembre los dias que rompieron el Parlament Puente Arturo 8 September 2017 El Parlament aprueba la ley para declarar la independencia tras el 1 O eldiario es Madrid Retrieved 9 April 2018 El Constitucional sentencia que se vulneraron los derechos de la oposicion en el Parlament el 6 de septiembre eldiario es 29 November 2017 Retrieved 10 February 2018 a b Jones Sam 6 September 2017 Catalonia to hold independence vote despite anger in Madrid The Guardian Madrid Retrieved 9 September 2017 Catalan parliament passes controversial referendum law El Pais Barcelona Madrid 6 September 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2017 a b Catalonia s parliament approves law aimed at independence from Spain Efe Madrid 7 September 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2017 La ley de transitoriedad contempla el control politico absoluto de jueces y fiscales El espanol Los puntos mas polemicos de la ley del referendo catalan La Voz de Galicia 6 September 2017 Minder Raphael 8 September 2017 Catalonia Independence Bid Pushes Spain Toward Crisis The New York Times Barcelona Retrieved 9 September 2017 Noguer Miquel 8 September 2017 Spain s PM to Catalan secessionists Stop walking toward the abyss El Pais Barcelona Retrieved 9 September 2017 Catalonian mayors prepare for separatist vote as Spain ramps up legal action Efe Barcelona 7 September 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2017 Galan Javier Alameda David Abad Linan Jose Manuel Pueyo Busquets Jordi 7 September 2017 Que ayuntamientos han dicho ya si o no al referendum de Cataluna El Pais in Spanish Barcelona Madrid Retrieved 9 September 2017 Parra Aritz 8 September 2017 Catalan officials defy Madrid on independence vote ABC News Madrid Retrieved 9 September 2017 Puente Arturo 8 September 2017 Colau pide garantias a la Generalitat para facilitar el 1 O eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 9 September 2017 Sole Altimira Oriol 8 September 2017 El TSJC admite la querella contra Puigdemont Junqueras y todos los consellers por el referendum eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 9 September 2017 The criminal prosecution proceeds the Government and the Parliament table in Catalan Ara 8 September 2017 Retrieved 27 November 2017 The TSJC avoids claiming a deposit to the members of the Government for the 1 O Ara in Catalan 8 September 2017 Retrieved 27 November 2017 Spain threatens to arrest over 700 Catalan pro referendum mayors The Daily Telegraph 13 September 2017 Retrieved 14 September 2017 Spain summons Catalan mayors over independence vote Al Jazeera 14 September 2017 Retrieved 14 September 2017 Catalonia refuses to send weekly accounts to Madrid before referendum Reuters Madrid 14 September 2017 Retrieved 14 September 2017 Estevez Torreblanca Marina Carreno Belen 15 September 2017 El Gobierno asume los pagos de las facturas catalanas eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 15 September 2017 Sixto Baquero Camilo Servulo Gonzalez Jesus 14 September 2017 Catalonia to central government ahead of referendum No more spending reports El Pais Barcelona Madrid Retrieved 15 September 2017 Catalonia referendum Spanish raid deals blow to vote BBC News 19 September 2017 Retrieved 20 September 2017 Catalonia referendum Spain steps up raids to halt vote BBC News 20 September 2017 Retrieved 20 September 2017 Hernandez Jose Antonio Carranco Rebeca Garcia Jesus 20 September 2017 Civil Guard raids Catalan government offices arrests 14 over illegal referendum El Pais Barcelona Madrid Retrieved 20 September 2017 Stone Jon 20 September 2017 Spanish police storm Catalan government buildings to stop independence referendum The Independent Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 20 September 2017 Catalan crisis State of emergency as Madrid cracks down on referendum by rounding up officials The Journal 20 September 2017 Retrieved 20 September 2017 Stone Jon 20 September 2017 Catalonia referendum Catalonian government de facto suspended by Spain President of region says The Independent Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 20 September 2017 Catalonia referendum Spain PM calls for escalation to stop Financial Times Madrid 20 September 2017 Retrieved 20 September 2017 Marsden Sam 20 September 2017 Catalonia Thousands take to streets of Barcelona to protest crackdown on separatists The Independent Barcelona Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 20 September 2017 Toyer Julien Edwards Sam 21 September 2017 Spanish crackdown has undermined Catalan independence bid regional leader says Reuters Madrid Barcelona Retrieved 21 September 2017 Tomas Neus 20 September 2017 20 S golpe letal al referendum eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 21 September 2017 Junqueras La mejor mocion de censura a Rajoy es el referendum en Catalunya Europa Press in Spanish Barcelona 21 September 2017 Retrieved 21 September 2017 Spain sends more police to block Catalonia referendum Reuters Madrid 22 September 2017 Retrieved 23 September 2017 Jones Sam 22 September 2017 Catalan leader accuses Spanish government of Franco style crackdown The Guardian Barcelona Retrieved 23 September 2017 El fiscal comunica a los Mossos que Interior asume el control de la seguridad en Catalunya eldiario es in Spanish 23 September 2017 Retrieved 23 September 2017 El movimiento estudiantil anuncia la ocupacion indefinida de la UB El Nacional in Spanish 22 September 2017 Retrieved 23 September 2017 Spain Takes Over Coordinating Police Work in Catalonia The New York Times Barcelona 23 September 2017 Retrieved 23 September 2017 Students occupy Barcelona university in support of secession Fox News Channel Barcelona 23 September 2017 Retrieved 23 September 2017 Catalan self determination referendum results 2017 Statista 21 July 2023 Retrieved 21 July 2023 Cuantos heridos hubo en realidad el 1 O EL PAIS in Spanish 3 October 2017 Retrieved 29 October 2017 Over 840 people injured in Catalonia during referendum Catalonia regional government Reuters 1 October 2017 Iglesias Leyre 9 October 2017 Contamos como agresiones hasta las ansiedades por ver las cargas por television El Mundo in Spanish Retrieved 11 October 2017 Contamos como agresiones hasta las ansiedades por ver las cargas por television ELMUNDO in Spanish Retrieved 2 March 2018 1 O Denuncian que Salut dio ordenes de confundir heridos y atendidos Redaccion Medica in European Spanish Retrieved 2 March 2018 La Generalidad dio orden de confundir heridos y atendidos el dia del referendum ilegal Libertad Digital in European Spanish 11 October 2017 Retrieved 2 March 2018 Preston Peter 8 October 2017 Violence in Catalonia needed closer scrutiny in age of fake news the Guardian Retrieved 2 March 2018 El CCMC denuncia que no es pot posar en dubte la professionalitat i independencia dels metges a l hora de certificar els ferits el dia 1 d octubre Col legi de Metges de Barcelona in Catalan 13 October 2017 Retrieved 20 March 2018 Juez contabiliza 218 heridos en las cargas policiales en Barcelona el 1 O La Vanguardia EFE 10 October 2017 Retrieved 11 October 2017 Requeijo Alejandro 6 October 2017 El juez que investiga las cargas policiales No era ilegal votar el 1 O El Espanol in Spanish Retrieved 11 October 2017 a b Catalan referendum Vote illegal Spain s King Felipe BBC News 3 October 2017 Retrieved 3 October 2017 Jones Sam 3 October 2017 King Felipe Catalonia s authorities have scorned all Spaniards with referendum The Guardian Barcelona Retrieved 4 October 2017 Clarke Hillary Rebaza Claudia Soares Soa 3 October 2017 King of Spain accuses Catalan leaders of unacceptable disloyalty CNN Retrieved 4 October 2017 El PP destaca que el rey se ha vuelto a comprometer con la legalidad eldiario es in Spanish 3 October 2017 Retrieved 4 October 2017 Gil Andres 3 October 2017 El discurso del rey enciende a Unidos Podemos y los comunes eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 4 October 2017 Dirigentes socialistas echan en falta una llamada al entendimiento en las palabras del rey eldiario es in Spanish 3 October 2017 Retrieved 4 October 2017 Spain court halts independence move by MPs BBC News 5 October 2017 Retrieved 5 October 2017 Stothard Michael Buck Tobias 5 October 2017 Big bank to move headquarters out of Catalonia Financial Times Madrid Barcelona Retrieved 6 October 2017 Catalonia banks prepare to move amid fears of customer exodus Independent 6 October 2017 Retrieved 6 October 2017 Petroff Alanna Liakos Chris 6 October 2017 Top bank moving HQ out of Catalonia over threat of split from Spain CNN Money Retrieved 6 October 2017 Linsell Katie Duarte Esteban 6 October 2017 Catalonia banks prepare to move amid fears of customer exodus Independent Retrieved 6 October 2017 Burguen Stephen 6 October 2017 Catalonia seeks to prevent business exit in event of independence declaration The Guardian Barcelona Retrieved 6 October 2017 Munoz Velez Antonio 6 October 2017 Diez cotizadas catalanas pueden usar el decreto del Gobierno para permitir mudanzas expres eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 6 October 2017 Aguas de Barcelona Agbar tambien decide trasladar su sede social de Barcelona a Madrid El Economista in Spanish 7 October 2017 Retrieved 7 October 2017 La crise catalane fait fuir les collectionneurs Le Monde fr in French 18 October 2017 Retrieved 8 February 2020 Montanes Jose Angel 13 October 2017 El Macba afirma que la seguridad de sus obras esta garantizada El Pais in Spanish ISSN 1134 6582 Retrieved 8 February 2020 La salida de empresas de Cataluna se dispara y llega al record de 268 en un solo dia El Mundo in Spanish 20 October 2017 Retrieved 21 October 2017 Rallies in Barcelona and Madrid urge leaders to hold talks on Catalonia TheGuardian com 7 October 2017 Pinol Angels 9 October 2017 Masiva manifestacion en Barcelona a favor de la Constitucion y la unidad de Espana El Pais Las caras conocidas de la manifestacion por la unidad de Espana La Vanguardia 8 October 2017 1 O La pasividad de los Mossos y las posteriores cargas policiales marcan un dia de tension con votaciones sin garantias eldiario es in Spanish 1 October 2017 Retrieved 16 October 2017 G Labat Jesus Vazquez Angeles 1 October 2017 Siete jueces investigan a los Mossos por desobediencia al no frenar el 1 O El Periodico de Catalunya in Spanish Barcelona Madrid Retrieved 16 October 2017 Spanish judge calls on Catalan police chief to testify in sedition probe EFE 4 October 2017 Retrieved 16 October 2017 Jones Sam 10 October 2017 Catalan government suspends declaration of independence The Guardian Barcelona Retrieved 16 October 2017 La CUP lanza un ultimatum a Puigdemont y podria abandonar el Parlament El Economista in Spanish 10 October 2017 Retrieved 16 October 2017 a b Hannah Strange 16 October 2017 Two Catalan independence leaders taken into custody by Spanish national court The Telegraph Barcelona Retrieved 20 October 2017 Spain High Court jails Catalan separatist leaders pending investigation The Guardian Madrid 17 October 2017 Retrieved 20 October 2017 a b c The Jordis are not political prisoners here s why El Pais Madrid 18 October 2017 Retrieved 19 October 2017 Badcock James 4 October 2017 Catalonia s police chief faces sedition charge for allegedly failing to follow orders ahead of referendum The Telegraph Madrid Pinheiro Marcos 17 October 2017 Las claves del auto de Sanchez y Cuixart actuaron contra la Guardia Civil para proteger a altos cargos eldiario es in Spanish La Fiscalia denuncia por sedicion en la Audiencia Nacional los incidentes de Barcelona tras las detenciones eldiario es in Spanish 22 September 2017 El testimonio que puede llevar a prision a Trapero Senti terror y humillacion El Espanol in Spanish 15 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 Desvelan las 6 llamadas de auxilio de la Guardia Civil a los Mossos Antena 3 in Spanish 6 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 Que es el delito de sedicion Asi lo regula el Codigo Penal in Spanish El Periodico 17 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 Criminal Code Organic Law of 1995 Official State Gazette Organic Law 10 in Spanish 23 November 1995 Retrieved 28 October 2017 We have political prisoners again says Catalan president Catalan News 16 October 2017 Retrieved 17 October 2017 Political Prisoner or Jailed Politician It s Catalans Spin Battle With Spain Bloomberg News 18 October 2017 Retrieved 28 October 2017 Spain charges for sedition and pre trial detention against Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez are excessive Amnesty International 18 October 2017 Retrieved 24 October 2017 Amnistia no ve como presos politicos a los dirigentes catalanes detenidos El Mundo 8 November 2017 Retrieved 8 November 2017 Calvet Josep Maria 17 October 2017 Un video muestra como Cuixart y Sanchez intentaron disolver la manifestacion de Economia La Vanguardia in Spanish Retrieved 18 October 2017 Ponce de Leon Rodrigo 11 October 2017 El Gobierno exige que Puigdemont aclare su posicion sobre la independencia antes del lunes eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 16 October 2017 Ponce de Leon Rodrigo 11 October 2017 Rajoy anuncia el requerimiento a la Generalitat previo a la aplicacion del articulo 155 eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 16 October 2017 Spain moves towards activating nuclear option on Catalonia crisis Reuters 11 October 2017 Retrieved 16 October 2017 Rogers Jon 11 October 2017 Catalonia crisis Rajoy opens way to suspending region s self rule Daily Express Retrieved 16 October 2017 Vallespin Ivanna 16 October 2017 Puigdemont letter fails to provide clear answer on independence declaration El Pais Retrieved 16 October 2017 El Gobierno cree que la carta de Puigdemont parece que no responde a lo que se le ha solicitado eldiario es in Spanish 16 October 2017 Retrieved 16 October 2017 Ponce de Leon Rodrigo 16 October 2017 El Gobierno duda de la oferta de dialogo de Puigdemont y pone en marcha el segundo requerimiento eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 16 October 2017 Jones Sam 16 October 2017 Catalan president Carles Puigdemont ignores Madrid s ultimatum The Guardian Madrid Retrieved 16 October 2017 Couzens Gerard 16 October 2017 Furious Spain sets Catalonia new deadline as it REFUSES to confirm independence Daily Express Retrieved 16 October 2017 Marmol Iolanda Martin Patricia 18 October 2017 El Gobierno frenaria el articulo 155 si Puigdemont convocase elecciones autonomicas El Periodico de Catalunya in Spanish Madrid Retrieved 20 October 2017 Garcia Pagan Isabel 26 October 2017 Puigdemont convocara elecciones en Catalunya para el miercoles 20 de diciembre La Vanguardia in Spanish Retrieved 26 October 2017 Pardo Torregrosa Inaki 26 October 2017 Dimiten los diputados Albert Batalla y Jordi Cuminal del PDeCAT por la convocatoria de elecciones La Vanguardia in Spanish Retrieved 26 October 2017 B Garcia Luis 26 October 2017 La CUP se irrita con el nuevo rumbo de Puigdemont hacia las elecciones autonomicas La Vanguardia in Spanish Retrieved 26 October 2017 Tomas Newus Puente Arturo 26 October 2017 Puigdemont no convoca elecciones tras fracasar la negociacion con el Gobierno para retirar el 155 eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 26 October 2017 Dewan Angela Rebaza Claudia 26 October 2017 Catalan leader stumbles in bid for independence from Spain CNN Retrieved 26 October 2017 Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain BBC 27 October 2017 Retrieved 27 October 2017 Spanish senate approves article 155 for Catalonia EUobserver 27 October 2017 Ponce de Leon Rodrigo 27 October 2017 Rajoy cesa a Puigdemont y su Govern y convoca elecciones para el 21 de diciembre eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 27 October 2017 Soraya Saenz de Santamaria Madrid s enforcer for Catalonia BBC News 28 October 2017 Retrieved 28 October 2017 Mansfield Katie 28 October 2017 Spain takes charge of Catalonia Deputy PM handed CONTROL of region amid fears of violence Express co uk Retrieved 28 October 2017 Rankin Jennifer Burguen Stephen 31 October 2017 Catalonia crisis deposed leader Puigdemont says he ll respect elections The Guardian Brussels Barcelona Retrieved 31 October 2017 Stone Jon 31 October 2017 Carles Puigdemont says he can t return to Catalonia because Spain is intent on vengeance The Independent Brussels Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 31 October 2017 Tadeo Maria Strauss Marine Duarte Esteban 30 October 2017 Catalonia Bows to Spanish Authority as Rajoy s Strategy Prevails Bloomberg Retrieved 30 October 2017 Work resumes normally in Catalonia as Spain enforces direct rule Reuters Barcelona Madrid 30 October 2017 Retrieved 30 October 2017 El Constitucional suspende la declaracion de independencia de Catalunya eldiario es in Spanish 31 October 2017 Retrieved 31 October 2017 Jones Sam 2 November 2017 Spanish judge jails eight members of deposed Catalan government The Guardian Madrid Retrieved 2 November 2017 EU warrant sought for ex Catalan leader BBC News 2 November 2017 Retrieved 3 November 2017 Spain issues warrant for Catalan ex leader BBC News 3 November 2017 Retrieved 4 November 2017 Catalan protest against Spain jail moves BBC News 2 November 2017 Retrieved 3 November 2017 Spanish court orders detention of 8 former Catalan ministers CNN 2 November 2017 Retrieved 3 November 2017 Boffey Daniel 5 November 2017 Carles Puigdemont turns himself in to Belgian police The Guardian Retrieved 5 November 2017 Catalan ex leader freed by Belgian judge BBC News 6 November 2017 Retrieved 6 November 2016 Four Catalan separatists to stay in jail BBC News 4 December 2017 Retrieved 5 December 2017 Catalan leaders arrest warrants dropped BBC News 5 December 2017 Retrieved 5 December 2017 Spain says nation s chief prosecutor has died in Argentina Fox News 18 November 2017 Spain s attorney general dies at 66 BBC News 18 November 2017 Luis Navajas teniente fiscal del Supremo releva a Maza hasta que el Gobierno designe un sucesor in Spanish Vazquez Angeles Santos Pilar 24 November 2017 El Gobierno elige a Julian Sanchez Melgar como nuevo fiscal general del Estado in Spanish El Periodico Aguado Sonya Dowsett 22 December 2017 Spain s crisis re ignited as Catalan separatists win vote Reuters Catalan ex leader demands Spain talks BBC News 22 December 2017 Jones Sam Burgen Stephen 22 December 2017 Catalan pro independence parties keep their majority in snap poll The Guardian via www theguardian com Clarke Sean Catalonia election full results The Guardian via www theguardian com Meler Isaac 22 December 2017 Total collapse of the PP in Catalonia leaves Rajoy exposed Catalan News Monitor Archived from the original on 16 November 2018 Retrieved 24 March 2018 Pina Raul 27 December 2017 Arrimadas no intentara la investidura para evitar el desgaste ante el PP El Mundo in Spanish Madrid Retrieved 6 January 2018 Romero Juanma 3 January 2018 El PSC aguarda el plan de Cs para la Mesa pero facilitara un presidente no indepe El Confidencial in Spanish Retrieved 6 January 2018 Catalonia MPs elect separatist speaker as parliament reconvenes BBC News 17 January 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Catalonia s Puigdemont cannot lead from abroad court rules BBC News 27 January 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Jones Sam 27 January 2018 Puigdemont could return to Catalonia in attempt to retake office The Guardian Retrieved 25 March 2018 via www theguardian com Jones Sam Burgen Stephen 30 January 2018 Catalan parliament delays vote on leader but backs Puigdemont The Guardian Retrieved 25 March 2018 via www theguardian com Jailed Catalan leader We must unite to retake control BBC News 21 February 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Catalonia Spain Fugitive Puigdemont abandons presidency BBC News 1 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Catalonia Spain Judge refuses to release Jordi Sanchez for investiture BBC News 9 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Jones Sam 9 March 2018 Catalan leader cannot leave jail to attend debate court rules The Guardian Retrieved 25 March 2018 via www theguardian com Catalonia crisis Jailed activist Jordi Sanchez drops candidacy BBC News 21 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Jones Sam 22 March 2018 Catalan parties propose third potential leader in race against courts The Guardian Retrieved 25 March 2018 via www theguardian com Spain charges 13 Catalan politicians with rebellion Deutsche Welle 23 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 via www dw com Spanish court remands Catalan presidential candidate in custody The Guardian 23 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 via www theguardian com Puente Arturo 24 March 2018 Torrent suspende la votacion de investidura y realiza un pleno simbolico de apoyo a los encarcelados eldiario es in Spanish Retrieved 24 March 2018 Spain Catalonia Protesters clash with police after court ruling BBC 24 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Spain Catalonia Ex leader Puigdemont avoids Finnish arrest BBC News 24 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Carles Puigdemont Former Catalan president detained BBC News 25 March 2018 Retrieved 25 March 2018 Burgen Stephen Oltermann Philip 25 March 2018 Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont held by German police The Guardian Retrieved 25 March 2018 via www theguardian com Germany refuses to extradite Catalonia s Puigdemont on rebellion charges Independent 5 April 2018 Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Puigdemont Cannot Be Extradited on Rebellion Charge German Court Rules New York Times 5 April 2018 Catalan case Spain drops warrant against Puigdemont BBC News 19 July 2018 Retrieved 28 March 2019 Spain blames RUSSIA for Catalonia crisis as Madrid accuses Moscow of DESTABILISING country Express co uk 13 November 2017 Spain joins call for EU action on propaganda EUobserver 13 November 2017 Illegal Putin condemns Catalonia referendum and will continue to treat Spain as one Express co uk 28 September 2017 a b Alandete David 11 November 2017 Russian network used Venezuelan accounts to deepen Catalan crisis El Pais Retrieved 11 November 2017 Cotovio Vasco Grinberg Emanuella 13 November 2017 Spain Misinformation on Catalonia vote came from Russia CNN Retrieved 15 November 2017 a b c Emmott Robin 13 November 2017 Spain sees Russian interference in Catalonia separatist vote Reuters Retrieved 15 November 2017 The Latest Ex Catalan president to lead party in election The Washington Post 15 November 2017 Archived from the original on 16 November 2017 Retrieved 16 November 2017 a b Russia Calls Spain s Accusations It May Have Meddled In Catalonia Vote Hysteria Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 16 November 2017 Gonzalez German 9 May 2022 El emisario de Putin ofrecio 10 000 soldados rusos a Puigdemont para la independencia El Mundo Retrieved 26 November 2022 Baquero Antonio Hall Kevin Fueling Secession Promising Bitcoins How a Russian Operator Urged Catalonian Leaders to Break With Madrid OCCRP Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project Retrieved 26 November 2022 Portals nbsp Law nbsp Politics nbsp Spain Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2017 2018 Spanish constitutional crisis amp oldid 1211653514, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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