Catalan crisis about democracy argues Puigdemont in UK daily

“This is not just about Catalonia. This is about democracy itself” is the title of an article by deposed Catalan President Carles Puigdemont that appeared in the UK’s Guardian newspaper on Monday. From his exile in Belgium, the ousted Catalan leader uses the article to harshly condemn the Spanish authorities for their actions, in particular the “brutal judicial offensive” that has seen eight former ministers jailed and a European warrant issued for Puigdemont’s arrest.

“Today, the leaders of this democratic project stand accused of rebellion and face the severest punishment possible under the Spanish penal code – the same as for cases of terrorism or murder: 30 years in prison,” writes Puigdemont, who predicts that this “colossal outrage” will have serious consequences. Arguing that the actions of the Spanish government are “undemocratic” and “unlawful”, Puigdemont says “we will continue denouncing to the entire world the serious democratic shortcomings that are now evident in Spain.”

“We need scrutiny from abroad”

In fact, appearing as it does in a major UK newspaper, Puigdemont’s article is clearly aimed at an international audience. Throughout the article, the Catalan president makes repeated references to the international context of the Catalan conflict. “I have a duty to demand justice for all of us,” he argues at one point, adding: “To bring light to all the dark areas in which the state is allowed to commit unacceptable abuses. And to do this we need to allow in scrutiny from abroad.”

Throughout the article, Puigdemont goes out of his way to provide context for the situation as it stands today. He reminds his readers of the circumstances that led to an independence majority in the Catalan parliament, provides examples of unacceptable behaviour from the Spanish authorities, such as arrests made without judicial orders, as well as pointing to the ideological closeness between the Madrid government and far-right radical unionist groups.