Parties representing 55% of voters snub commemoration of Spain's constitution

Neither the pro-independence parties nor anti-austerity Catalunya en Comú, which is non-aligned in the territorial issue, attended the event in Catalonia to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Spanish constitution, which was held in Barcelona on Wednesday. 

Junts per Catalunya, Esquerra, CUP and Catalunya en Comú together account for almost 60% of the seats in the Catalan parliament and were backed by 55% of the voters in the December 2017 Catalan election. 

None of them attended the event hosted by the Spanish government's delegate in Catalonia, Teresa Cunillera, who saw her invitation accepted by the Socialists, the People's Party, Ciutadans, and far-right Vox. 

During her speech, Cunillera called for dialogue, which she said "is the only way to moderate stances and move forward without excluding anyone or any territory." 

Cunillera also mentioned the possibility of reforming the constitution, but only if there is "consensus" to do so. 

Yet, the delegate also warned the pro-independence camp that everything is accepted in Spain's magna carta "except for hate and intolerance." 

"There is no room for those who twist the way to do things because they do not like the rules of the game," she said. 

"The Constitution does not represent the majority of Catalans"

Yet the Catalan president, Quim Torra, was among those who disagreed with Cunillera. In a letter sent to her and to congress speaker, Meritxell Batet, he explained his reasons for not attending the event, calling the constitution "a tool that justifies repression."

According to Torra, "it does not represent the majority of Catalans."

The head of the main unionist party in Catalonia, Ciutadans' Lorena Roldán, hit back at his comments: "Don't get confused, you're the one who doesn't represent the majority of Catalans, not the constitution."

"What you want is a tailored constitution, so that you can act with impunity," she added.