Why Catalonia Failed to Withstand Official Madrid?

• 11.02.2017, 11:22
•  Europe,  World

News Front

Despite the information reported previously, that Catalonia's former head of government Carles Puigdemont will return to Barcelona from Brussels, he has not returned. Only two of the seven politicians who were with him returned to Barcelona, Ria.ru reports. 

It should be recalled that Puigdemont and his seven colleagues left for Brussels several days ago. There was a version that they had left for Brussels for political asylum. But during the press conference, he announced that he had arrived in Belgium to avoid threats against him, according to which the former head of Catalonia threatened to face up to 30 years in prison. He added that he wants to return to Catalonia but firstly Madrid must give him some "guarantees". He clarified that he had left for Belgium, considering "security and freedom concerns." According to the former leader of Catalonia, the Spanish court has no grounds for instigating a suicide attempt against him and his ministers, and the threats against them speak of Madrid aggression. However, he urged his supporters to try to avoid a confrontation with Madrid. 

And though Puigdemont is still not going to ask for help from Brussels, he does not lose his time. Former Catalonian leader has already chosen a lawyer, which is Belgian Paul Becker, who gained great authority by defending Luis Moreno and Rakel Garcia, members of the separatist group of Basques. After talking with Puigdemont he told reporters that his client is fighting and iss not frightened at all.

At the same time, the Belgian secretary of state for the migration policy and asylum Theo Franken, in turn, did not exclude the possibility of giving political asylum to Puigdemont. It is noteworthy that if Brussels really decides to provide political asylum to Puigdemont, Spain will hardly succeed in his extradition. Madrid has already stated that such a stance is strange. Official Madrid may now be able to calm the statement of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, who said that the question of giving political asylum to Puigdemont is not on their agenda now. He called Franck "not to add fuel on the fire".

It should be noted that the reason of Puigdemont's leaving was the fact that the Catalan parliament declared about the independence of autonomy on October 30. An hour later, the Spanish Senate approved the application of Article 155, which had never been used before, but it allowed Madrid to establish direct control in Catalonia. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced about dismissing of the members of the autonomy government, including Carles Puigdemont, dissolving Catalonian parliament, and holding snap elections on December 21. Madrid hopes that these elections will enable to "restore the legal state". Let's remind that earlier, Puigdemont announced that he was refusing from Madrid's proposal to hold snap elections. Nevertheless, during the press conference, Puigdemont said he was ready to recognize the results of the December 21 elections.

As a result, the functions of the Catalonian leader were handed over to Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soray Saens de Santamaria. Puigdemont refused to accept Madrid's decision and made a call for "democratic confrontation". After that, the Spanish General Prosecutor's Office filed suit against former Catalonia leaders, accusing them of rebelling, calling for the change of the state system and embezzlement of public funds.

It should be noted that mass protests took place in Catalonia last week with the participation of both supporters of independence and those who opposed it. As for the Catalan parliament, it has just received the Spanish authorities' decision, and it is not surprising at all, because despite the aspiration for independence, Catalans are interested in keeping the issue in the legal field. It should be noted that the Catalonian authorities failed to resist Madrid for two simple reasons. First, they did not have a pre-developed program for such events. The second reason is that the Catalans did not receive support from the European Union.

And although Catalonia's independence lasted only 4 hours, as the Spanish government managed to take steps to prevent separation from Spain in such a short term, besides, the tough policy of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is still serving his goal, official Madrid must continue to keep the forces tense. And the reason is that even more than half of Catalans are now against independence, they will continue to demand greater autonomy and economic privileges.