No Spanish judge would 'dare' protect a German acting against 'constitutional order', says MEP
In a letter to the European Parliament, Esteban González Pons warns "something is not working” if a local German judge can overrule Spain’s Supreme Court
catalonia spain
Puigdemont not president thanks to Spanish gov, says Rajoy
The Spanish president Mariano Rajoy bragged on Sunday about preventing the pro-independence leader from reclaiming the office
Pre-trial detention is measure of last resort, says UN Human Rights Commission
High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also "dismayed by use of violence" during October 1 referendum
Unemployment rate rises in January
Extra 4,848 jobseekers is the biggest increase for a start of the year since 2015
Catalan leaders could be barred from office before trial, says Spanish minister
Rafael Catalá says Court could suspend Carles Puigdemont and jailed pro-independence officials prior to a final ruling
Spanish police to prevent Puigdemont entering Catalonia ‘even inside the trunk of a car’
Home Affairs minister says a police operation is being prepared to prevent a surprise arrival of the Catalan president
Barcelona City Council approves measure to deny permits for far-right protests
The Catalan People’s Party and Ciutadans voted against proposal, while Barcelona in Common, ERC, PSC, CUP, the Democratic Group, and an independent voted in favour
2 million foreign tourists visited Catalonia in September
Total of visitors from abroad increased by 8% in first 9 months of 2017
Catalonia leads unemployment reduction in Spain
Catalonia was last month again the Spanish Autonomous Community with the most intense monthly and annual decline in registered unemployment, official data released on Thursday show. According to the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Security, by the end of June 2015 there were 20,952 fewer people registered with the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC) in comparison to May 2015, leaving the total number of registered unemployed individuals at 510,947. This drop is, in absolute terms, the lowest recorded for the month of June in the last 3 years. However, in relative terms, registered unemployment fell by -3.94%, the biggest decline for the month of June in 19 years. Compared to a year ago, the number of jobseekers decreased by 59,267 (-10.39%), thus marking a two-year period of consecutive annual decline in registered unemployment.
US ambassador to Spain says American companies would “make adjustments” to adapt to an independent Catalonia
James Costos confirmed that the United States and its enterprises “are watching” the political process in Catalonia and are “of course interested in what the outcome will be”. The representative of the US government in Spain said in Madrid that in the event that “things change,” business needs to be prepared for this. “Business leaders have to look at things that are coming down the pike and take decisions based on that”, he stated.
Tourism in Catalonia up by 2.3% in May
In the first five months of 2014, the number of foreign visitors increased by 8% to almost 5.5 million people. Catalonia is the autonomous community in Spain that attracts the most tourists, one in four of all foreign visitors to Spain. This is according to the latest figures from the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism. The strongest increases in visitors came from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Asia, although the UK, Germany and France are still the three countries that sent more tourists to Catalonia.
German employers warn against Catalan independence’s “dreadful consequences”
Around 60 German businesspeople working in Catalonia have issued a manifesto against independence from Spain. They warn against “the dreadful consequences” that independence would bring for the Catalan economy. The manifesto signers, who work in companies that invested millions in Catalonia and in the rest of Spain, state that independence would represent the automatic expulsion from the European Union. They also add that “it is doubtful” it could still use the Euro. Furthermore, they “warn about the dangers of a nationalist fervour, which in the last century, has brought immeasurable suffering to Europe and which will neither bring anything good to Catalonia”. Besides, on the same day, the President of Spain’s main employer association, Juan Rosell, stated that independence would be “disastrous” for human relations. The Catalan Government respects their opinion but has refused to comment on the manifesto.
63% to back independence if Catalonia does not have greater self-government within Spain
The Catalan Centre for Polling (CEO), linked to the Catalan Government, published “an experimental poll” based on 1,830 interviews on 10 different future scenarios, such as an independent Catalonia within the European Union, an independent Catalonia being expelled from the EU and independence bringing a positive economic impact. In the event that the Spanish Government insists in not changing anything regarding the current relationship between Catalonia and Spain, 62.7% of Catalans would vote “yes” in an independence referendum while 22.5% would oppose it and 7.8% would abstain. It is the highest-ever support to independence registered in an opinion poll. On the other hand, if the EU automatically expelled Catalonia if its citizens were to vote for independence, 45.4% would still vote “yes”, 37.6% would vote “no” and 12.7% would abstain. For all scenarios independence is the clear winner.
Spanish Parliament to debate Catalonia’s bill requesting the transfer of referendum powers
The Bureau of the Spanish Parliament has accepted a debate on the Catalan Parliament’s bill requesting the transfer to the Catalan Executive of the powers to organise referendums, using Article 150.2 of the Spanish Constitution. The Bureau, totally controlled by the People’s Party (PP), has not discussed the contents and has only approved requesting the Catalan Parliament to send the bill’s full dossier, the step before putting the bill on the agenda. The motion would be debated in September, although there is a chance it could be rescheduled for June. However, Catalan parties will register an identical bill at the Spanish Parliament to discuss it even earlier, probably in March. The bill was approved by the Catalan Parliament with 87 ‘yes’ votes, 43 ‘no’ votes and 3 abstentions that considered the request was slowing down self-determination.
Rajoy rejects Catalonia’s self-determination vote once again
The Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, stated in a TV interview on Monday evening that he has “a plan” to prevent Catalonia’s self-determination and “guaranteed” that “the independence of any Spanish territory will not happen while [he is] in office”. Rajoy emphasised that his plan’s guidelines are, firstly, “implementing the law”. The Spanish PM said he is “ready for any scenario that might happen”, but refused to disclose any measure. Secondly, he would be “working on increasing the bonds that have always united the whole Catalan people and the people living in Catalonia that are not born in Catalonia with the whole Spanish people”. Thirdly, “working to solve the problems of the Spanish and Catalan economies”, as well as the funding of the Catalan Government. However, Rajoy stated he “will not call” the Catalan President, Artur Mas, despite the offers to talk.