Madrid argues that its officers were defending the constitutional order against a de facto insurrection, but Ms Gabriel insists the intervention was a “savage and brutal attack against an entire people”. “Many people who were not in favour of independence now say that they no longer want to form part of a Spanish state that confronts political problems like this. In political terms, people are saying: is this what the Spanish state has to offer?”, she says. Spain, Ms Gabriel argues, is not only a state with “fascist roots” but also one that cannot acknowledge its own failure: “If you need so much brute force to defend the unity of the state, isn’t it evident that this unity does not exist?”
Spanish Political News
- Thread starter dessiato
- Start date
Profile: Anna Gabriel CUP SPOKESWOMAN IN CATALONIA’S PARLIAMENT Catalonia’s far-left Popular Unity Candidacy does not have formal leaders. But it does have a face, and it is that of Ms Gabriel, the spokeswoman for the party’s group in the Catalan parliament. She hails from a leftwing family of miners in Sallent, north of Barcelona, and trained both as a teacher and a lawyer. Ms Gabriel belongs to the radical wing of what is already, by European standards, a radical party. The CUP describes itself as a “clearly socialist organisation with the objective of replacing the capitalist socio-economic model with a new model that is centred on the human collective and that respects the environment”.
It opposes Catalan membership of Nato and of the EU. Ms Gabriel is a veteran activist who was part of an anti-fascist group in her youth before setting up a local CUP chapter in her hometown. Her greatest fear, she once told a Spanish interviewer, is that the “havoc created by the capitalist system will be irreversible”. The fact that the CUP’s pronouncements are taken seriously in both Madrid and Barcelona highlights a broader shift inside the independence camp. In the four decades since Spain returned to democracy, the cause of secession has mostly been the preserve of radicals and outsiders, a minority that rarely exceeded 15 per cent of the population. That changed a decade ago, as mainstream politicians and voters started adopting the call for independence. Beginning with Artur Mas, Catalan president until 2016, support for secession and a referendum on secession became the official policy of the Catalan government. Now, however, the focus is on mobilisation not negotiation — and the power is shifting back to the streets, to pro-independence grassroots movements such as the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Omnium Cultural, and to the CUP, which sees itself more as a collective of local organisations than a traditional party. “This is a process without a steering wheel and without brakes,” says Oriol Bartomeus, a political scientist at the Autonomous University in Barcelona. “The Republican Left and PdeCat have totally lost control,” he says, referring to the two pro-independence parties who jointly form the Catalan government. “And that loss of control means that the groups that are imposing their agenda are organisations like the ANC and Omnium and the CUP. They are the ones ensuring that the process continues.”
© AFP Profile: Jordi Sánchez PRESIDENT OF THE CATALAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY As president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Mr Sánchez is a pivotal figure in the independence process. Founded in 2012, the ANC has become the principal grassroots movement pushing for secession. It has branches in every town and village of the region, and can count on tens of thousands of highly motivated volunteers. Mr Sánchez has been a prominent leader of the Catalan nationalist movement for decades. In the early 1980s, he was a senior member of La Crida a la Solidaritat, a Catalan group famous for organising a mass rally in Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium under the motto “We are a nation” as early as June 1981. Mr Sánchez is now under investigation for sedition for his role in helping to organise Sunday’s independence referendum. The claim that CUP leaders such as Ms Gabriel are running the show is made not least by Madrid. Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, referred to the group’s influence in a recent speech, warning that Catalan policy was being “determined” by “radicals and extremists”. Ms Gabriel and other CUP leaders dismiss that assertion. According to David Fernández, another prominent party figure, the CUP sees its role above all as “holding up a mirror” to the Catalan leadership. That leadership, however, knows better than most the influence that the CUP can command: Mr Puigdemont became president in January 2016 only because the group’s deputies refused to back his predecessor for another term in office. Despite its radical roots and positions (which include taking an independent Catalonia out of Nato and the EU), the CUP has so far made common cause with the more centrist, business-friendly elements of the independence movement. © Reuters Profile: Jordi Cuixart PRESIDENT OF OMNIUM CULTURAL The president of Omnium Cultural is a businessman from Sabadell, and veteran activist in matters of Catalan culture and politics. He was one of the driving forces behind the creation of FemCat, a pro-independence business lobby. Founded in 1961 during the years of Franco dictatorship, Omnium was initially focused on promoting and preserving Catalan language and culture at a time of intense repression. Over the years, it became increasingly political, eventually joining the call for an independent Catalan state. Along with the ANC, Omnium figures as the principal organiser of the mass independence rallies held every year on September 11, Catalan national day. Mr Cuixart is under investigation by the Spanish courts for sedition. But Ms Gabriel is frank about her party’s ultimate goals. “For us independence is not an end in itself. It is an instrument to change the rules of the game and the material conditions of life of the majority of the people.” She acknowledges that even an independent Catalan republic is unlikely to back the CUP’s radical brand of socialism. But she points to recent examples of progressive Catalan legislation on issues such as police tactics and energy poverty as signs that a new state could tilt markedly to the left. And if Spain answers a unilateral declaration with arrests of senior leaders and a takeover of the regional government? “Of course there is fear. It would be frivolous to say that we are not afraid that the tanks will return,” says Ms Gabriel. “But what should we do? Nothing? Stay at home, paralysed?” Timeline: road to referendum Catalan parliament © Getty SEPTEMBER 2005 Catalonia’s parliament votes for reforms to the region’s autonomy statutes, which grant the regional government more power and financial autonomy and recognise Catalonia as a nation MAY 2006 Spain’s parliament approves a different version of the reforms, less to the liking of pro-independence Catalans. In a referendum with a low turnout, 73 per cent of Catalan voters support the measures 2009 Between 2009 and 2011, 554 municipalities and close to 900,000 Catalans take part in symbolic independence referendums Artur Mas © Reuters JUNE 2010 Spain’s Constitutional Court amends 14 articles of the autonomy statute and disputes others, leading to protests in Catalonia SEPTEMBER 2012 Catalan president Artur Mas calls a snap election in the hope of securing more parliamentary support for an independence referendum. Pro-referendum parties win 80 per cent of seats in November’s poll SEPTEMBER 2014 Mas calls a non-binding independence referendum. Despite a constitutional court ban, an informal ballot takes place in November. With 2.3m voting, a 36 per cent turnout, 81 per cent support independence © AP SEPTEMBER 2015 Further regional election in Catalonia where pro-independence parties win majority in parliament JANUARY 2016 Carles Puigdemont becomes president of Catalonia SEPTEMBER 2017 Catalan parliament approves a law to formally call a referendum on October 1 and a law regarding a transition to independence OCTOBER 1 2017 The referendum goes ahead without Madrid’s approval
Sorry, but big block of text be what happened. I just wanted to get the thing here to read and kind of not doing the tidy-making thing. Sorry, really.
Seriously, I do know it's a right old mess.
But I suppose I was operating on the old idea of "grab this, cos they might change it later", which is not a problem in this case.Also, my internet access works off my mobile phone, which now has habit of switching itself off, so I go for "get the basics first then worry later".
Sorry to all for big messy text.
rekil
to menny cranks
Oh! Lo siento mucho pero no comprende.
I only did one year of Spanish at school and that was because of my utter refusal to do Higher maths. So I got to do Spanish "O" grade in one year instead of two, and it was a great old time, cos there was just me, and I met the teacher about once a week. When I realised that if first class in morning would be for me to sit in room and read stuff, it might be quite all right to turn up late, that was good too.
I only did one year of Spanish at school and that was because of my utter refusal to do Higher maths. So I got to do Spanish "O" grade in one year instead of two, and it was a great old time, cos there was just me, and I met the teacher about once a week. When I realised that if first class in morning would be for me to sit in room and read stuff, it might be quite all right to turn up late, that was good too.
Riklet
procrastinación
Madrid full of flag waving dickwads from all over Spain singing dodgy songs and being annoying. Hay de todo. Clearly, they are not all facists and the suggestions that the 40% of Catalans who are from the rest of Spain or have Spanish origins are colonisers shows the equally dodgy thinking from flag waving dickheads up in Catalunya.
Even reading that article about the CUP doesnt make me view Catalan nationalism in much more a positive light. Yes there are some good things emerging through direct democracy and popular protest up in Catalonia but the radicals of '36 and' 37 must be turning in their fucking graves. As mentioned previously.
Didnt see many people in white in Madrid and only reasonable stuff has come from Podemos so far. Then again I haven't been that tuned in because most people talk so much shit about the whole thing, even people who should know better.
And to add some balance from an economic and class-based analysis, even if El Pais is a bit biased..
Shows low support for indepence from poorer members of Catalan society. Earning less than 1,800€ means you are significantly less likely to support Catalan independence. Granted, there may be various factors but salt of the earth working class sons and daughters of miners and socialist visionaries? Yeah ok. Or not. Me me me politics. And yes history is currently in the making and things are changing fast, I admit that, but have the fundamentals?
I don't know where things are heading, but just because some shit/positive things are happening on the streets doesn't make it necessarily a positive or progressive direction.
Even reading that article about the CUP doesnt make me view Catalan nationalism in much more a positive light. Yes there are some good things emerging through direct democracy and popular protest up in Catalonia but the radicals of '36 and' 37 must be turning in their fucking graves. As mentioned previously.
Didnt see many people in white in Madrid and only reasonable stuff has come from Podemos so far. Then again I haven't been that tuned in because most people talk so much shit about the whole thing, even people who should know better.
And to add some balance from an economic and class-based analysis, even if El Pais is a bit biased..
Shows low support for indepence from poorer members of Catalan society. Earning less than 1,800€ means you are significantly less likely to support Catalan independence. Granted, there may be various factors but salt of the earth working class sons and daughters of miners and socialist visionaries? Yeah ok. Or not. Me me me politics. And yes history is currently in the making and things are changing fast, I admit that, but have the fundamentals?
I don't know where things are heading, but just because some shit/positive things are happening on the streets doesn't make it necessarily a positive or progressive direction.
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butchersapron
Bring back hanging
If you haven't yet, I strongly recommend reading that piece that lurdan translated and hosted above.
https://my.mixtape.moe/fxnzai.pdf
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
What do you think singing "A por ellos" means on a protest in Catalonia of people waving the fucking spanish flag? After all the police brutality, you still don't get it? The march I mentioned last night ended in front of a police station where they paid homage to the thugs who were cracking heads on the 1st of october.
Today, in Barcelona they have shipped in tens of thousands from all over Spain to pretend that here in Catalonia people don't support Independence, and guess what, the whole spanish flag in Catalonia thing, as Julian Assange has pointed out, has a culturally fascist undercurrent. Plenty of fascist salutes today in Barcelona. There might be a percentage who are participating who don't see it that way but at the end of the day it is obvious bigotry. Spain is backward, Catalunya can't stand it anymore.
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tim
EXPLODED TIM! (Help me!!!)
Rather a sweeping dismissal of those who have the temerity to disagree with you. Is it not just a tad racist. I can understand why those whose families originate in those "backwards" Iberian regions might be not relish the idea of living under a Nationalist Catalan regime.Spain is backward, Catalunya can't stand it anymore.
I am struggling to see this (independence) as a wholly progressive move and have a horrible suspicion that there is a nasty core of 'why should we pay for those who are not as wealthy, hardworking (name your euphemism) as ourselves'. Not to mention the underlying nationalism/regionalism which, to me, just means exclusion. But obvs, coming from a position of next to no knowledge of the region but a fairly competent understanding of present political realities.
Ah right, cheers. makes sense. Competing agendas which fall under a temporary umbrella invariably start to unravel (messily).
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
Sorry? Which one is the "regime"? My sweeping dismissal is of the flag waving bigots who have invaded Catalonia today led by a coalition of spain's leading right wing reactionary throwback forces who have very little representation here. The movement for independence is not a regime it is a mass movement of peaceful people and in essence is progressive.
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
That narrative places the catalans as the aggressors when historically and even now they are treated like a colony by Spain's state apparatus which has revealed itself to be living entirely in the pre democratic past.
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
Pablo Iglesias of Podemos was spotted by apolitical spanish unionists at Sants station in Barcelona today.
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
Fascist pups patrolling the backstreets of Barcelona and threatening Catalans.
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
Singing the Franco version of the spanish hymn in Barcelona today.
aggressors to who? What happens to all those non-native catalonians actually living there (and have been for generations). Or Catalonians living in the rest of Spain? Spare me if the 'colonial oppression' argument is amenable to simple expositions of right and wrong after centuries of integrated living (identities?) And who, by the way, is oppressed in the wealthiest region of Spain? You surely are not claiming non-catalans hold the power and wealth in catalonia while native catalans occupy a subaltern position?) O, but this is such an easy push - the old nationalist us and them question (rarely fails in social animals)...and if we maintain a fiction of left wing soldarity (manifested how?). I am only seeing national solidarity which stinks). Obviously, Anudder Oik, you are emotionally invested in portraying a very one sided definition and there is undeniable outrage when armed police brutalise civilians... there is no doubt that Spain has never fully cast off the Francoist authoritarianism...but yep, still unconvinced...although I am more than willing to be proved wrong and sincerely hope this is not just a timely power feint.
Oh - a 'narrative' is just a story...and as such, is endlessly amenable to interpretation...and from where I am watching, I remain unconvinced that this is a genuine,bottom-up movement for egalitarian justice...and not just another powerplay using the current ideological weapons at the disposal of ruling elites.
Oh - a 'narrative' is just a story...and as such, is endlessly amenable to interpretation...and from where I am watching, I remain unconvinced that this is a genuine,bottom-up movement for egalitarian justice...and not just another powerplay using the current ideological weapons at the disposal of ruling elites.
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Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
I am here and surrounded by Independendistas of all colours who get constant whatsapps and tweets from the main street oriented organizations, Omnium Cultural, ANC and CUP. No mention whatsoever of "why should we pay poor people...". No enmity is directed at ordinary spaniards although they do complain rightly about poor investment in infrastuctures despite contributing more. Madrid takes the money and builds to suit Madrid in a radial policy based on party interests and not national economic ones. The Catalan's problem is with the regime of 78, the fake democrats and the barely democratic state system of politically appointed judges/police, etc.. with its base in Madrid in the PP and PSOE parties. The Catalans are more progressive as a whole, the strength of the independence movement is out of the hands of the bourgoise politicians and in the hands of a mass cross class movement which is being politicised. When Independence comes the corrupt catalan political class are also for the chop.
tim
EXPLODED TIM! (Help me!!!)
Well arssuming, as you clearly desire, those "progressive" people achieve their objective, there will be a Catalan Nationalist regime in power. What do you think the position of nonCatalan speakers will be? Will the new nation be bilingual? To what degree would those from the backward Iberian South and East be expected to conform to Catalan norms?
Oh right - colour me cynical...
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
You describe it as a catalan nationalist regime, Everyone here sees it as a continuation of the progressive democratic republic of the 1930's and a break away from the corruption of the PP (1000 councillors pending trial). The aspirations are republican. Everyone here is bilingual to start with and nothing will happen to spanish people living here. There is already linguistic immersion, most classes are taught in catalan at school and at university. My daughter is trilingual. There is no animosity to ordinary spanish, in fact, it is the other way around. A large minority of spanish immigrants show hate towards catalans, the flag waving and aggresive demos bear me out on this; "A por ellos" "viva la guardia civil". Many spanish migrants want independence, too. Ruffian, one of the most outspoken indepentistas is a spanish catalan. The backward Iberians you mention are the ones in Barcelona today spreading hate, they don't represent all of Spain but the other progressive side of spain is extremely quiet these days.
Anudder Oik
heinous pointless bellend/fucking gobshite muppet
There doesn't seem to be any problem from the organizers of todays invasion of Barcelona with the presence of people giving the fascist salute. Possibly 300,000 on this march. Most shipped in from places like Marbella.
Riklet
procrastinación
Yeah they're awful those Serbs and Bosnians eh. Facist backward povvos who take all the money etc etc 
Interesting videos and links though. Looks very provocative the whole shebang in Barna today. How many of those fuckers were bussed in though? And why Marbella? Long way innit. Must have been some Catalans there surely?
Interesting videos and links though. Looks very provocative the whole shebang in Barna today. How many of those fuckers were bussed in though? And why Marbella? Long way innit. Must have been some Catalans there surely?
tim
EXPLODED TIM! (Help me!!!)
I'm not convinced that something that ceased to exist 78 years ago could so easily be continued under any circumstances. And I certainly don't see how a Catalan Republic of can be seen as the continuation of the Second Spanish Republic as it excludes most of the latter's territory and is primarily Catalan rather than Spanish speaking
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