Peaceful resistance coming.
BARCELONA, Catalonia (PNN) - October 23, 2017 - Catalan president Carles Puigdemont delivered a scathing response to Mariano Rajoy’s article 155 declaration. He accused Rajoy of the worst tactics since dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco. Even the Mayor of Barcelona, who does not want independence, points a finger at Rajoy. Puigdemont pledges peaceful resistance. “What we decide through voting is to be wiped out by the government in their offices,” said Puigdemont. The Catalan Parliament will hold an emergency session on “this attempt to destroy our autonomous government, our democracy.”
Widely believed rumors suggest the Catalan Parliament will announce independence as soon as the Spanish Senate approves Rajoy's Article 155 declaration.
Rajoy's heavy-handed tactics backfired.
“There could have been dialogue, instead we’ve got state intervention,” said Barcelona mayor Ada Colau. She did not back independence.
Carme Forcadell, president of the Catalan Parliament, described Rajoy’s measures as “a de facto coup d’etat”.
"Each step the Spanish Government is doing it turns more people to independence," says Elena Jimenez from Omnium Cultura, one of Catalonia's big pro-independence cultural organizations.
The real question is not whether or not government tactics backfired, but rather these:
1. How will Madrid respond when the Catalonia Parliament ignores Rajoy?
2. How will Madrid respond when Catalans peacefully resist?
3. What happens if Madrid forces a vote and the independence seekers win an even larger majority?
