Catalonia’s ousted president has traveled to Brussels and been offered asylum, Spanish authorities said Monday soon after indicating that prosecutors were filing charges against him and other regional leaders related to their declaration of independence last week.
Spanish prosecutors in Madrid said they were asking judges for rebellion, sedition and embezzlement charges against Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and others who were dismissed by Spain’s central government.
Puigdemont and a majority of Catalonia’s parliament declared independence Friday, but the Spanish government then fired them under a special constitutional provision and called new regional elections Dec. 21.
Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, Puigdemont's attorney, told Antena 3 television that the attorney general’s claim that his client was guilty of rebellion was “real nonsense.”
Puigdemont did not immediately comment. A spokeswoman for his party, Marta Pascal, said she could not confirm whether he would appear in court to face charges. “I’ve talked with him, and he’s fine,” she said at a news conference.
The Madrid government had warned members of the Catalan cabinet that they could remove belongings from their offices Monday but if they tried to perform official duties, they would face charges. con't.... *************************
By Brittany Vonow, Mark Hodge, and Jennifer Awford - 'The Sun' (UK) - October 29, 2017
CATALAN'S deposed leader has seemingly refused to concede he had been sacked as he called for calm in Spain as the country teeters on the brink of its worst political crisis in four decades.
As the Spanish government held its first meeting to discuss their new roles since imposing direct rule over Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont instead promised to continue to build a "free country", and called for "democratic opposition" to Madrid.
In the pre-recorded, televised message, Puigdemont urged people to continue pushing for independence, saying: "We do not deviate: we continue persevering in the only attitude that can make us winners.
"Without violence, without insults, in an inclusive way, respecting people and symbols, opinions, and also respecting the protests of the Catalans who do not agree with what has decided the parliamentary majority."
As pro-unity protesters crowds took to the streets on Saturday, screaming "prison for Puigdemont", the leader said "patience, perseverance and perspective" was needed.
It comes after fears that the country could further descend into violence have surfaced after the Prime Minister ordered fresh elections and fired Catalonia's hero police chief who led its response to the Barcelona ISIS terror attack.
Catalonia officials have also been stripped of their powers across civil service, finances and public media, with all eyes on whether independence supporters will carry out their threat of peaceful resistance to Madrid's takeover.
Fights erupted on the streets of Barcelona last night as both sides of the argument took to the streets and further protests were held in Madrid today amid fears local police could resist the national force. con't....
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Obviously the Spanish government does not recognize the Catalonians as any sort of distinct and unique people, language, and culture. After decades of being prepped by Globalist interests, there's no turning back as far as that governmental apparatus... and all of the others for that matter. The Spanish government is really no worse than the Italian government, or Britain, France, Germany, etc. They believe that Catalonia is merely an "administrative zone," and that a Catalonian has no more right to it than a Yemeni migrant. Spain is like Shawshank Prison; the Spanish government is like Warden Norton; Catalonia is like Andy Dufresne. "How dare you leave us and take away all of your energy and talent! We need the wealth that you generate in order to survive!" Pitiful. There is at least some slim degree of mainstream support for Catalonia; from Scotland, Portugal to a smaller extent. .
MILAN (AP) — The presidents of Italy's wealthy northern regions of Veneto and Lombardy on Sunday claimed victory in autonomy referendums that seek to grab additional powers and tax revenue from Rome, riding a global tide of self-determination that has swamped Spain's Catalonia region.
The votes were nonbinding, but the leaders of the neighboring regions hope to leverage strong turnout in talks with Italy's center-left government. As leading members of the anti-migrant, anti-EU Northern League, they want to keep more tax revenue and have autonomy over such policy areas as immigration, security, education and environment.
"This is the big bang of institutional reform," Veneto President Luca Zaia said in Venice. "We are convinced, and I hope Rome understands, that this is not the wish of a political party. These are the wishes of the people."
In Milan, his counterpart in Lombardy, Roberto Maroni, said that with the votes, the two regions "can unify our forces so we can do the battle of the century." The two leaders say they will meet with their regional councils to finalize their requests before going to Rome to meet with Premier Paolo Gentiloni.
Unlike in Catalonia, the referendums do not seek independence and were approved by Italy's constitutional court. Still, the autonomy drive is a powerful threat to Rome's authority. Together, Veneto and Lombardy account for 30 percent of Italy's GDP and nearly one-quarter of the nation's electorate.
Maroni said an overwhelming 95 percent of his region's vote went to "yes," with turnout above 40 percent of Lombardy's 8 million voters. That far exceeded the bar for success that he set at 34 percent, which was the turnout for a national referendum on constitutional reform in 2001.
Independence-minded Veneto easily met a turnout threshold to validate the vote set by Zaia, with some 60 percent of the region's 4 million voters casting ballots. According to early returns, 98 percent voted "yes." con't.... .
While the Catalan crisis dominates the headlines, a similar story is breaking out in Italy – with the country’s northern regions gearing up for a wide autonomy referendum. Can the vote succeed – and how will Rome deal with the results? We ask Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy’s Northern League party.
This month the Lombardy region and the city of Venice will both vote on new powers of autonomy at referendums which are now taking on increasing levels of controversy.
Previously seen as a low-scale vote on local powers, the referendums are now experiencing symbolic overtones following last Sunday’s Catalonian chaos.
Last weekend more than 800 people were injured by police as a referendum on independence for Catalonia was held - against the express wishes of leaders in Madrid and Brussels.
And now Italy is facing similar chaos with two referendums set to be held on October 22, although in these instances the votes are state-approved and will not face violent opposition. con't.... *************************
Globalism (bankers) vs. Nationalism (the cultures of the world) The comments at the end of the two below articles reflect the changing opinion regarding the European Union as well as any. Unfortunately it took Europe being brought to the brink in order to finally comprehend what the EU is really all about. https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/406084-catalan-crisis-referendum-italy/
POLICE VIOLENCE IN CATALONIA The Exposer That's why Barcelona and Las Pamas won't be played, security can't be assured. Catalan referendum: 337 injured amid reports of rubber bullets fired by Spanish police. Violence breaks out in Barcelona as riot police attack protests, while Catalans cast independence votes in peaceful defiance of Spanish government. ************ POLICE VIOLENCE IN CATALONIA (Part 2)
************************* The Globalist Spanish government have recruited police, from all other administrative regions of Spain, and dispatched them into Catalonia in a last minute attempt to prevent the referendum. 40% of the total GNP of Spain comes from the little state of Catalonia, which has only 14% of the population! The simple truth is that the Spanish government believes that they preside over mere administrative regions where rootless bankers, Capitalists, Marxists, migrants, and perverts can collect their "entitlements" at the expense of the descent worker and small business person.
This police action is very similar to the manner in which the UK has used it's military in Northern Ireland over the years. The tribal resolve of the collective Catalonian people has ultimately proven to be stronger than separatists from Ireland, Scotland, Padania, Venetia, the Basque Country, and other regions. This is far from over. Catalonia needs to seize full control of their land from an enemy foreign government by forming a provisional army immediately! This almost reminds of the the Five Days of Milan where the people literally defeated the Austrian army.
