A satirical show portrays Puigdemont’s decapitation

A satirical show demands the decapitation of Carles Puigdemont and the audience grants it. This was the scene in a comedy performance in a festival in the South of Spain. It was part of a performance, which mock-staged the public beheading of the Catalan president. In the show, played in the southern Spanish city of Cadis, Puigdemont is decapitated after been judged in a trial. The performance was a ‘chirigota’, a genre of Spanish choral folk song characterized by satirical songs. Originating in the southern Spanish province of Cadis, it is played by costumed performers during the annual two week carnival.

The show representing Puigdemont’s beheading is one of the humorous and satirical performances that are part of the Official Competition of Carnival Groupings of the Andalusian city, which is held before carnival. On stage, a mock judicial proceeding was carried out, in which one of the members stated that Puigdemont’s beheading is due to Article 155 of the Spanish constitution.

Next, three performers dressed up with wigs and glasses, mocking the Catalan president deposed by the Spanish government while he appeals for clemency for having organized the referendum on independence. The faux-judge asked the public what to do with Puigdemont and the audience unanimously claimed that he must be beheaded. 

Other satirical performance and article end up in court

While no legal action has been taken against this parody, last November a Catalan actor was summoned to appear in a local court after imitating Spanish Royal family members in a performance during last year’s Barcelona festival. He is to testify on January 30 charged with slander. The actor, Toni Albà, has been famous for years for his satirical portrayals of the former king of Spain, Juan Carlos, but had never been summoned before for this reason.

Also in November, the editor of a satirical magazine, El Jueves, appeared in court also accused of slander. The magazine published an article titled ‘The continued presence of riot police uses up cocaine reserves in Catalonia,’ referring to the law enforcement agents dispatched to Barcelona and other Catalan cities for the October 1 referendum vote.