Determined to have their say - protests continue in Catalonia over independence vote
- 7 years ago
Thousands of demonstrators calling for Catalan independence gathered in towns across the region on Sunday following Madrid’s actions last week to try to block a referendum that it considers illegal.
Spanish police have arrested a number of Catalan officials who were involved in organising the October first vote – they also seized electoral material, including ballot papers and ballot boxes.
“The Spanish Government is abusing its power – preventing us from voting in the referendum and accusing us of rebelling against the state,” said Jordi
It is not possible the abuse of power that some have from the Spanish governmental instances that can take repression to the point of acuse us of sedition”.
Following the arrests in Barcelona last week, Carles Puigdemont, the head of the Catalan regional government, said the referendum will go ahead.
But Catalan’s socialst party says people should respect the law.
SALVADOR ILLA, SECRETARY ORGANIZATION PSC (CATALAN SOCIALIST PARTY) SOT: “
The law has to be respected. The socialist party is defending the State of Law. It’s our framework of coexistence. But respecting the law alone will not end the Catalan issue, it’s more of a political issue.
A list of polling stations published online was removed on Saturday, on Sunday people were seen printing and sharing the details.
Although polls show less than half of Catalonia’s 5.5 million voters want independance, most in the wealthy northeastern region want the chance to vote on the issue.
Spanish police have arrested a number of Catalan officials who were involved in organising the October first vote – they also seized electoral material, including ballot papers and ballot boxes.
“The Spanish Government is abusing its power – preventing us from voting in the referendum and accusing us of rebelling against the state,” said Jordi
It is not possible the abuse of power that some have from the Spanish governmental instances that can take repression to the point of acuse us of sedition”.
Following the arrests in Barcelona last week, Carles Puigdemont, the head of the Catalan regional government, said the referendum will go ahead.
But Catalan’s socialst party says people should respect the law.
SALVADOR ILLA, SECRETARY ORGANIZATION PSC (CATALAN SOCIALIST PARTY) SOT: “
The law has to be respected. The socialist party is defending the State of Law. It’s our framework of coexistence. But respecting the law alone will not end the Catalan issue, it’s more of a political issue.
A list of polling stations published online was removed on Saturday, on Sunday people were seen printing and sharing the details.
Although polls show less than half of Catalonia’s 5.5 million voters want independance, most in the wealthy northeastern region want the chance to vote on the issue.