Political agreement for budget paves way for Catalan referendum

CUP party finally agreed yesterday to approve the Catalan Government’s budget for 2017. This starts the countdown to the referendum of independence and sets the independence process in the final stage.

At some point during May the Parliament will approve the law of Judiciary Transience that will effectively be a declaration of independence and will enable a Catalan legal framework under which the Independence referendum will be organised. The approval dor the rest of the Catalan independence laws will be conditional to the result of the referendum being Yes.

Even though the original plan is for the referendum to take place in September the Government has hinted at the possibility of doing it earlier if Spain continues its legal attacks against Catalan politicians as they have so far.

The next milestone for the process is February the 6th when the trial to former President Mas starts and a protest is being organised by the main pro independence organisations. Mas is being charged with disobedience for organising the referendum of November 2014 and if found guilty would be banned from running for any political posts.

Irish MEP Matt Carthy: “the people of Catalonia should decide for themselves”

After tuesday’s conference of the Catalan President at the European Parliament Irish MEP Matt Carthy has said “all democrats should agree that the people of Catalonia should decide for themselves”

This is yet another international support for the Catalan referendum. These have increased substantially especially after last december the President of the Catalan Parliament Carme Forcadell appeared in court facing charges for disobedience for allowing a debate about Catalonia’s independence to take place at the Parliament.

 

Catalan President receives standing ovation at Europarliament by a room full to the brim

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Standing ovation at the European Parliament when Catalan President Carles Puigdemont finished speaking a few minutes ago. VicePresident Junqueras and Foreign Minister Romeva also participated.

The bigger event room (350 seats but about 150 more were standing) at the European Parliament was full in spite of the boycott attempts by the Spanish diplomatic services and Spanish representatives in Brussels. I have the feeling their clumsy attempts probably backfired and increased the interest in the conference.

Puigdemont said that above all this is about democracy and that Catalonia’s project is deeply pro european. But the main message he delivered was that this year Catalonia will organise a referendum of independence, whether it is agreed with Spain or not and Catalans will decide whether Catalonia becomes an independent State or not.

I have to say I am surprised by the warm welcome that the audience, which was composed of members MEPs and members of international diplomatic services has displayed. I expected skepticism and a touch of indifference but it seems that finally Europe is putting the Catalan referendum in their agenda and paying close attention. Maybe it was just the firm belief in the European project in the light of recent events like Brexit that has made the difference.

A Catalan odyssey to vote

Just got back from the Post Office. My vote is sent. This wasn’t easy.

Spain blocked the vote of the Catalan expats through bureaucracy so that only some 16000 Catalans have been able to vote. More than 140000 Catalan expats who requested to vote will not be able to do so. The issue has been denounced by the Catalan EuroMPs to the European Institutions. (ca)

In order to get my vote I had to personally go to London and spend a whole morning (more than 3 hours) at the Spanish Embassy going from one window to another, in 3 different floors, several queues and contradicting instructions.

Then they proceeded to send the vote 1 week after the legal deadline to do so.

Finally, the instructions to vote included in the documentation were wrong, and if followed, would invalidate your vote.

That is the concept of democracy in Spain.

In spite of all this here is my vote. For independence.