Spanish police storm Catalan government buildings to stop independence referendum

Separatists know the referendum was illegal:

 

Ah very interesting information, do you think it will all die off now that violence is being promoted from Madrid to stop it?

 

The unilateral declaration of independence by Catalonia offends me as it would anyone from Spain, this is natural. At the same time I can appreciate how this demand would naturally follow from a pattern of conduct and trend that has proceeded unabated for decades. I am disturbed by the selfish political machinations that have produced the situation Spain now confronts, Catalonia needs a principled leader with a bit more honesty and greater moral integrity than Puigdemont and his cabinet. I am most disturbed by the harm Catalonian secessionists have done to Spain, which until now had enjoyed regional coexistence without this adversarial animus. I'm also unhappy about how the former government in Catalonia has provoked the division of society in the region as we've witnesses huge crowds gathering to both cheer independence and condemn separatism, we see apartment building decorated with Spanish flags and esteladas (separatist flags), I just hope things don't get worse.

I am pleased to note the resurgence of patriotism, in Catalonia and across the nation. In the US it is not uncommon for people to decorate their homes displaying "Old Glory", many businesses fly the national flag too. In Spain this is not done, only government buildings and the military will display the flag, any individual doing so would be scorned as a fascist. With the unilateral declaration of independence by Puigdemont, it seems people across Spain suddenly recovered patriotism and shamelessly went out to wave Spanish flags. I'm thrilled at this development, national pride is a good thing.

 

What "violence promoted from Madrid"?

The government in Madrid is approaching this Catalonian problem with extreme discretion, they've designated the most nondescript and obscure Minister to oversee the most limited assumptions of only partial jurisdictions in the region, their interim administration was scheduled for just 54 days, it is a highly technocratic approach.

 

I have seen violence coming out of this, IMO most likely somewhere around 70% or me thinks it will end violentyly. Spain does tend to do that.

Do you feel this is accurate? I'm very interested in your first hand accounts.

 

Thare are getting rid of the Catlonian government, that will require at the very least the threat of violence.

It is like paying taxes, we pay taxes at tip of the sword, more like the barrel of a gun. If you want to see what I am talking abou, stop paying your mortgage and see what happens

 

No, I don't expect violence, certainly not from Madrid and it offends me this should be described as typical or particularly Spanish, I think people who do so are inaccurately stereotyping. Both Rajoy and Puigdemont, as well as many political leaders in Catalonia and across Spain have emphasized repeatedly the importance of avoiding violence. The government in Madrid has extensively detailed procedures to cope with recalcitrant Catalonian functionaries, the ousted regional government has called for "peaceful resistance".

 

you can be insulted al you want doesnt change spains actions during the referendum when they showed its violent nature.
not to mension the bad rep the guardia civil had before that in terms of violence

if the catalonians resist i expect spain to force his way in this trough violence just like before

 

Hate to say it but from what I have seen I think the same thing.

most Spanish people who are pro union are trying to sweep this under the rug.

But if a judge does not follow the new rules from Madrid, VIOLENCE will replace him

There will be violence of some kind, just curious if it will be typical political violence or if Cataonians will act up too

 

I don't expect violence, Madrid has set up a very technical approach, they removed the regional chief of police and replaced him with his second in command who immediately followed protocol to remove portraits of Puigdemont from police station offices and ended the official police escorts and drivers for former regional government members. This is the sort of thing Madrid will do, they outlawed the former government by decree, this has the legal effect of outlawing compliance with any directives or instructions from the former government. Madrid has designated Ministers of the national government to temporarily oversee applicable regional jurisdictions, for example, the Spanish Minister of Education will temporarily issue instructions and directives to functionaries in Catalonia's public education institutions. Moreover, the scope of the interim administration is limited to only areas were there is evidence regional institutions are promoting independence. Furthermore, this is for just 54 days!

Realistically there will be functionaries who will resist, they'll fail to comply with whatever instructions from Madrid, if the functionary high-ranking, he'll be "separated from office", if the matter is serious, his immediate subordinate will assume the responsibility and apply the directive, or suffer the same fate. It's a bureaucracy, these aren't policy people, they're just applying regional laws, these aren't getting changed. Also remember these are functionaries, they're not in those positions because they're ambitions or ideological, they're there because they want steady guaranteed income and great job security, they're not mavericks trying to blaze any trails.

 

I still don’t anticipate the forecasted typical Spanish violence:

So, as is said here the Catalonian ‘resistance’ so far is a bit of a “nothing burger”, not much of that anticipated Spanish violence either.

 

Yesterday the Catalonian vice-president, Oriol Junqueras and 7 Consellers were arraigned, one was released on bail (he had resigned when Puigdemont declared independence), the rest were remanded in custody, denied bail due to flight risk. There are four other Consellers with Puigdemont in Brussels, warrants shall issue for their extradition (they'd been summoned to appear at the same arraignment).

Separatists in Barcelona vowed to stiffen resistance, "the smiling revolution is over".

Otherwise its business as usual (though not much of it).

 

Now that it's been published and enacted, the Generalitat should try again, and hurry up or this will become moot before the Court can decide.