And...It's Spain.. will it kick off ?

[Mothersruin]

After the referendum, did Madrid actually acknowledge any grievance from Catalonia and the requests for dialogue, or have they just threatened?

[telford_mike]

It now looks like there will be elections in Catalonia after Christmas. Presumably these will be fought on pro/anti independence platforms. If the unionists win I guess the problem goes away (for a bit). However, in the event of a separatist win, isn't Madrid in even bigger trouble?

It seems like a hell of a gamble.

[Earthdweller]

Madrid looking to impose direct rule ..

Catalonian president being threatened with Arrest and upto 30 years in Prison

Europe 2017 .., return to Political prisoners !

Imagine if the UK had arrested and locked up the Wee Winger for 30 years

Troubling times

[loafer123]

telford_mike said:

It now looks like there will be elections in Catalonia after Christmas. Presumably these will be fought on pro/anti independence platforms. If the unionists win I guess the problem goes away (for a bit). However, in the event of a separatist win, isn't Madrid in even bigger trouble?

It seems like a hell of a gamble.

I agree.

If the separatists win, Spain is in big trouble.

Even if they don’t, it could still get messier from here.

[Ken Figenus]

Troubleatmill said:

It is going to end with quite a few hundred civilian deaths.

Spanish referendums on Catalonia involve every Spanish citizen.
Catalonia is the cash cow. Spain will not let it go.

Sad times ahead.

Nope - Spain OWNS Catalonia as the less diplomatic Spaniards always put it in a totally 'f' 'em' kind of way.

This will get horrendous if Spain wont countenance evolving in basic principles of democratic society - as UK did with Scotland.

ETA Mk2 will no doubt be formed if they get oppressed, subjugated and shut down into submission by force. So sad.

Edited to add 'ETA' means Euskadi Ta Askatasuna!

Edited by Ken Figenus on Sunday 22 October 09:42

[anonymous-user]

The Catalonia issue has been handled about as badly as you could possibly manage it over the last 10 years.

The UK devolution and process to enable a referendum in Scotland has been the complete opposite. Same goes for the progress achieved in Northern Ireland.

You cant force people to tow the line, you have to find a consensus or as we experienced with NI before sensible debate was achieved, lots of horrible things will happen.

I don't know enough about Spain to say what will happen, but the signs are not promising. Too many hot headed ego's and the propaganda I have been reading on social media coming out of Madrid is setting people up for a pretty brutal response to Catalonia declaring independence.

[Robertj21a]

BBC reporting that 'Catalonia will not accept Spain plan'

[hyphen]

Anyone know what the predictions are for the result of new Catalan elections? As it os them requesting it, are the Spanish government confident of the separatists losing their majority, as if not where do they go from there.

[Wobbegong]

I think the trouble is that even if it is a true “no to Independence” vote, I doubt many will believe it after the way the Spanish government have acted.

[majordad]

Either way, are there any good tracks in Spain where the real Spanish Grand Prix can be held in 2018 given Barcellona might be occupied ?

[anonymous-user]

Jerez and Valencia are the only other circuits in Spain with FIA Grade 1 licences.

[FredericRobinson]

Can't imagine Aragon would have to do much more than pay the extra fee to be Grade 1.

[Sa Calobra]

So an EU country is going to force the majority of Catalonia to continue to be part of them.

The EU doesn't like the Democratic right of the people.

I'm glad we are leaving.

[Earthdweller]

Just heard the Spanish Minister on Marr saying that the Police never attacked the protesters and that the images were faked .. doesn’t inspire confidence that this will end well

[Cupramax]

Sa Calobra said:

So an EU country is going to force the majority of Catalonia to continue to be part of them.

The EU doesn't like the Democratic right of the people.

I'm glad we are leaving.

More alarming when the EU starts interfering with local constitutional issues. Its Madrid's implementing of the Spanish constitution that appears to be un democratic.

[Mothersruin]

Earthdweller said:

Just heard the Spanish Minister on Marr saying that the Police never attacked the protesters and that the images were faked .. doesn’t inspire confidence that this will end well

That's Tin Pot Banana Republic stuff.

[Wills2]

Sa Calobra said:

So an EU country is going to force the majority of Catalonia to continue to be part of them.

The EU doesn't like the Democratic right of the people.

I'm glad we are leaving.

What majority is this? You do understand that they have no democratic right to create their own country?

[Ken Figenus]

Their country exists already, to deny that is imperialism. Many of us are of the view that democracy means nothing without the freedom and right to self determination. Its then absurd to talk of democracy when votes are perpetually refused and then further physically prevented. This isnt democracy its dominance and repression. Tanks or ballot boxes?

[Robertj21a]

Earthdweller said:

Just heard the Spanish Minister on Marr saying that the Police never attacked the protesters and that the images were faked .. doesn’t inspire confidence that this will end well

Sounds like he's been to the Donald Trump school for fobbing people off.

[Ayahuasca]

The Spanish government is obliged to uphold the constitution.

A mob banging pots and pans together in Barcelona does not a national constitution override.

You want independence, fine, organise a legal referendum and negotiate. Oh, you won't win if you do that? Shame.