Spanish Political News

[mojo pixy]

Catalan looks sort of like La Chanson de Roland. No idea if it sounds like it, because I don't exactly know what the old Langue d'Oc sounds like... Probably does though.

 

[planetgeli]

I reckon those of you, on both sides, arguing about whether or not yesterday gave a mandate (or not) are missing the point of what happened yesterday by a country mile. It doesn't matter one shit whether or not above or below 50% voted. What mattered was what was happening in a supposed western EU democracy where the heirs of Franco showed they've never really gone away. I don't give a shit for Catalan nationalism. I do give a shit about the forces of the state being prepared to crack heads while other states look on apparently unwilling to condemn a violent suppression of people trying to act peacefully, democratically, within 'normal' rules laid down by liberal democracy. The vote could have been had, and, if necessary, ignored. Instead you have a crisis played out for the world to see. 50% my arse.

"Yeah, but the constitutional court said..."

 

[Riklet]

Yeah I agree mostly, plenty of apologism from rightwingers and limp liberals on my Facebook. Some of them pretty mouthy about democracyyyy normally.

I agree analysing the stats is not the priority. This is where it's true that to some extent it was a cynical ploy by the Catalan gov and elites, as obviously 85% of people were never going to vote, for MANY different reasons. There was very widespread support for holding a real binding legal vote, and probs even more now.

What is interesting however is the social movements which have emerged and will continue to shape the future direction of Catalonia. As I said right at the start, there are definitely progressive forces worthy of support and creating direct democracy and social solidarity.

I dont think there's any going back from here, now. A big wedge has been driven quite a bit further into the crack. Obviously it suits the narrative of both Viva España fuckers and a great deal of nationalistic Catalan independentistas.

There is also widespread condemnation and unease across Spain at the events and how Rajoy handled the whole thing. And quite rightly. Anyone who will line up with these cunts is a waste of time and space politically.

 

[pocketscience]

What the fuck do people think the EU is going to say??
they will stick to the law and fall down on the side of those with the power

See their response to the violence in Kiev 2014.

 

[Pickman's model]

What the fuck do people think the EU is going to say??
they will stick to the law and fall down on the side of those with the power

don't worry about the law, they're on the side of the big battalions

 

[Pickman's model]

Catalan looks sort of like La Chanson de Roland. No idea if it sounds like it, because I don't exactly know what the old Langue d'Oc sounds like... Probably does though.

roncevaux in navarre not Catalonia tho

 

[mojo pixy]

None of it happens in the lands now called Catalonia, but the language of the poem is to a large extent theirs.

 

[Pickman's model]

None of it happens in the lands now called Catalonia, but the language of the poem is to a large extent theirs.

poului can answer all s.o.r. questions

He's very knowledgeable

 

[Wilf]

The EU is quite keen on taking a human rights perspective on things beyond its own borders. Though not actually *at* its own borders, obv. Even a wet liberal can use human rights discourse to say that the law isn't always the final word in what happens. They just don't want to do it in this case.

The refusal of the EU to get involved in this is the point where the Remoaners who tied their remoaning into the idea of a 'progressive EU' should have a wee look at themselves.

 

[Pickman's model]

The refusal of the EU to get involved in this is the point where the Remoaners who tied their remoaning into the idea of a 'progressive EU' should have a wee look at themselves.

Yeh they've been pissed all over

 

[gosub]

The refusal of the EU to get involved in this is the point where the Remoaners who tied their remoaning into the idea of a 'progressive EU' should have a wee look at themselves.

bbbbut Spain is an exceptional case

 

[DotCommunist]

The refusal of the EU to get involved in this is the point where the Remoaners who tied their remoaning into the idea of a 'progressive EU' should have a wee look at themselves.

or even greece, where a more active hand was had.

 

[pocketscience]

I see Sturgeon was quick off the mark to (rightfully) criticise the FO's statement as 'shamefully weak':



Not a word following the Eu one though.

 

[Anudder Oik]

The EU is quite keen on taking a human rights perspective on things beyond its own borders. Though not actually *at* its own borders, obv. Even a wet liberal can use human rights discourse to say that the law isn't always the final word in what happens. They just don't want to do it in this case.

Interestingly I was just talking to a leftie friend in another part of Spain who feels that, while the violent actions of the government are clearly shit, the whole situation was engineered by neo-liberal Catalan elites, so he's angry about both sides of it.

Does your friend understand what colonialism is? I've been in Catalonia for over 20 years. From day one I started hearing people talking about independence, in fact the Catalans have been on the case for hundreds of years, since 1714 in fact.

It is true that the Catalan Elite have been channeling these sentiments more intensely, but the sentiments were widespread before they jumped on the bandwagon. Your friend should be supporting the people here. If they win, the corrupt spanish state will be damaged immensley.

 

[Anudder Oik]

Mr. Juncker wins quote of the day award:

We trust the leadership of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to manage this difficult process in full respect of the Spanish Constitution and of the fundamental rights of citizens enshrined therein.

Rajoy's PP is made up of the sons and daughters of franco's state apparatus, 400 councillors are pending trial for corruption. He has refused dialogue for years and is a spent politician resorting to violence on a scale reminiscent of Spain's fascist past. What happened yesterday all over Catalonia constitutes a crime perpetrated against an entire peaceful people.

My friend voted remain because, well, croissants, and he's educated.

 

[Anudder Oik]

This hasn't ended yet either.

The 10,000 police who were drafted in and coked up are still here, waiting for the go ahead to probably kill people. With the EU's light reaction I expect they feel justified for more violence this week.

I'm joining the general strike tomorrow.

 

[Anudder Oik]

The fire brigade in Tarragona paid a visit to the spanish police in one of their barracks today, they blared their sirens as a protest and the police ran to barricade themselves in, though there was no threat to them, just blaring sirens and pissed off fireman.

Video

Los bomberos visitan por sorpresa a la Policía Nacional en Tarragona

Spanish Police lodged in a hotel in Calella de mar were picketed last night by dozens of furious neighbours, until they came out in plain clothes and attacked everyone, then, the hotel evicted the bastrards and the Mayoress read a communique in a public square stating that Calella doesn't want them in its midst.

 

[Anudder Oik]

Latest news. Goat attacks Guardia Civil in Catalonia.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Latest news. Goat attacks Guardia Civil in Catalonia.

Gruff justice

 

[Wilf]

Gruff justice

Well, I'll be rammed!

 

[Raheem]

Well, I'll be rammed!

It's old footage though, isn't it? Let's not kid.

 

[Streathamite]

The EU speaks!

(under the rapid release program, 27 hours too late)

Statement on the events in Catalonia

Brussels, 2 October 2017

Under the Spanish Constitution, yesterday's vote in Catalonia was not legal.
For the European Commission, as President Juncker has reiterated repeatedly, this is an internal matter for Spain that has to be dealt with in line with the constitutional order of Spain.

We also reiterate the legal position held by this Commission as well as by its predecessors. If a referendum were to be organised in line with the Spanish Constitution it would mean that the territory leaving would find itself outside of the European Union.

Beyond the purely legal aspects of this matter, the Commission believes that these are times for unity and stability, not divisiveness and fragmentation.

We call on all relevant players to now move very swiftly from confrontation to dialogue. Violence can never be an instrument in politics. We trust the leadership of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to manage this difficult process in full respect of the Spanish Constitution and of the fundamental rights of citizens enshrined therein.

Jesus wept. Four whole paragraphs of a bleating, meaningless nothing - other than, in the final analysis, the EU will always support the State and the status quo

 

[Wilf]

Latest news. Goat attacks Guardia Civil in Catalonia.

I expect the farmer will be getting a bill for the damage.

 

[J Ed]

I see Sturgeon was quick off the mark to (rightfully) criticise the FO's statement as 'shamefully weak':



Not a word following the Eu one though.

The elephant in the room here I think is the EU response, all (or almost all) variants of Catalan Nationalism are fiercely pro-EU, just like Scottish Nationalism, and this is how that is being repaid. It is also under the auspices of the EU that Rajoy has been able, without any sort of hurdle, to build up an increasingly authoritarian state which suppresses basic freedom of expression. In fact, the austerity policies imposed upon Spain by the EU has made that these measures basically necessary for a right-wing government to administer over the country.

I hope that all of this helps build a left euroscepticism in Spain in Catalonia and beyond, being pro-EU has imo always been a weak point of Podemos' policy platform.

 

[J Ed]

Let's see what happens with this general strike. Looking at pics of the first barricades being built makes me want a tractor!

 

[weepiper]

FC Barcelona closed 3 October | FC Barcelona

 

[weepiper]

Sagrada Familia also closed

 

[Pickman's model]

Let's see what happens with this general strike. Looking at pics of the first barricades being built makes me want a tractor!

Yeh not sure dragging down barricades likely to make you Catalan friends

 

[Pickman's model]

This hasn't ended yet either.

The 10,000 police who were drafted in and coked up are still here, waiting for the go ahead to probably kill people. With the EU's light reaction I expect they feel justified for more violence this week.

I'm joining the general strike tomorrow.

I am surprised but pleased to hear this

 

[dessiato]

Anudder Oik good luck in the strike, be safe.