Puigdemont suggests Spanish king's attitude to Catalonia boosted far-right

Former president Carles Puigdemont suggested on Monday night that the Spanish king's attitude to Catalonia's push for independence boosted the far-right.

He also said that the three big Spanish parties –the Socialists, the People's Party and Ciutadans- had also contributed to the rise of the far-right by legitimizing its demands, taking part in anti-independence protests "along with them," and sharing the same "judicial" strategy.

The anti-independence, anti-migration and sexist Vox party got 12 seats in the regional election in Andalusia on Sunday. With an electoral manifesto that advocates suppressing Catalonia's self-rule and making all groups and parties defending independence illegal, Vox could be the kingmakers of a new conservative Andalusian government.

"Faced with the rise of the far-right and the right-wing Spanish nationalists, Catalonia said 'that's enough' but no one listened. Instead, they answered with a 'go get them' attitude," said Puigdemont, referring to the chants used by some Spanish police officers that were sent to Catalonia to stop the referendum.

According to the former president, King Felipe VI's speech two days after the vote, on October 3, 2017, did not help either, as he considered it to have legitimized the 'go get them' strategy.

"Does the king help or make things worse? Did the king's speech on October 3 boost Vox's rise or not? We think it did, so what are those responsible going to do?" Puigdemont asked.

The former Catalan leader described as "shameful" and "outrageous" the linking of the rise of the far-right with the independence movement. "We are the victims," he said, stressing that Vox is behind many of the lawsuits against pro-independence leaders and, as a private prosecutor, is asking they serve up to 77 years in prison.

Puigdemont added that the Socialists and the PP had "shared platforms" with the far-right in public demonstrations against independence, and are actually the ones that have "opened the door for them" into mainstream politics. In contrast, he said pro-independence parties have always been "at the forefront of the fight against fascism."

"Giving people a voice is the only recipe to stop fascism," Puigdemont said. According to him, there is a need for a "deep debate" within Spain and among democrats on the ways forward, to "respect fundamental rights, stop having political prisoners, and not allowing abuses by a state acting according to the rhetoric of the extreme right."