PPC, PSC and Ciutadans take pro-independence roadmap before the Court

Barcelona (CNA).- Pro-independence forces’ agreed declaration to start building a new country has been taken before the Spanish Consitutional Court (TC). Catalonia’s People’s Party (PPC), Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) and anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans are calling for the TC to cancel the Parliament Bureau’s decision to pass the processing of the pro-independence declaration and put it to vote next Monday. Although Xavier García Albiol, from PPC, Inés Arrimadas, leader of Ciutadans in Catalonia and Miquel Iceta from PSC all appeared this Wednesday at the TC’s registration office, they each presented their own writ of protection. However, all three petitions claim that the citizens’ right of participation and that of the parliamentary representatives has been violated, as the Spokesperson Bureau was convened before PPC constituted themselves as a parliamentary group. The TC may now hold an extraordinary plenary session to respond to these petitions before Monday, when the Parliament is scheduled to put the pro-independence declaration to vote.

PPC, PSC and Ciutadans are calling for the TC to declare the nullity of the Parliament Bureau’s agreement and “that of any later action related to it”. They appealed on the grounds of a possible violation of citizens’ rights, reflected in article 23 of the Spanish Constitution, and therefore asked the TC to stop the processing of the pro-independence declaration, a position that is backed by the Spanish Government. “All sort of red lines are being crossed in Catalonia” warned Spanish vice-president, Soraya Sáez de Santamaría, “and the rights of the citizens and those of the parliamentarians to defend their own ideas are being knocked down”. The three parties also regard the pro-independence declaration as an attempt against Spain’s unity. “The constitutional precepts regarding Spain’s territorial organisation” depend on the TC’s decision, states the text of PSC’s petition, as if the pro-independence proposal is not stopped and it is finally put to vote, it will be approved with the majority of ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and CUP votes.

The petitions also ask the TC to consider the content of the declaration as unconstitutional. “It is not necessary to make a deep analysis to realise that the content of such a proposal is absolutely incompatible with the Spanish Constitution, Catalonia’s Statute of Autonomy and the principles of the Rule of Law”, states PSC’s petition.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy assured that if the plenary session to debate the pro-independence declaration ultimately does take place and the text is approved he will ask the TC to suspend it “a day or two days later”. Rajoy made this statement in an interview with ‘El Mundo’ newspaper.

PPC and Ciutadans call for precautionary measures

PPC and Ciutadans went a bit further and urged the TC to adopt precautionary measures and suspend the declaration “immediately” as they consider the present situation to be “of extraordinary gravity”. The PPC stated that if the TC doesn’t act as a matter of urgency, the writs of protection will lose their essence.

‘Junts Pel Sí’: PPC, PSC and Ciutadans only agree to shut the people’s mandate

‘Junts Pel Sí’ Parliamentary group’s president, Jordi Turull, commented on PPC, PSC and Ciutadans’ appeals before the TC and lamented that these parties only agree when it comes to “shutting the mandate of the people of Catalonia”. Turull forecast that the TC won’t suspend the plenary session to debate on the pro-independence declaration. “It would be a fraud for democracy” he stated. “A Parliament should be able to debate on everything” he concluded.