As the crisis stemming from the independence referendum in Catalonia has entered a new phase, supporters of the unity of this region with Spain have announced that they will march in the city of Barcelona on Sunday. The unity supporters are set to gather in the streets of the region's center with the main slogan "Catalonia, we are all!". The demonstration of the opponents of Catalonia's independence comes two days after "tens of thousands" of independence supporters gathered in the streets of Barcelona to celebrate the establishment of a new "Republic". On November 5, the Catalan regional parliament voted for separation from Spain with 70 in favor and 10 against, while the opponents of this vote had boycotted it in the 135-member parliament. Shortly after this vote, the Spanish Senate voted 214 in favor and 47 against to impose direct control over Catalonia by the central government and transfer power from Carles Puigdemont, the head of the local government. Following the Senate resolution, Mariano Rajoy, the Prime Minister of Spain, declared the Catalan parliament dissolved and called for elections in the region on December 21 (two months later). On the other hand, Carles Puigdemont has also urged Catalan citizens to continue their "independence-seeking" through peaceful means. It is expected that members of three opposition parties in the dissolved Catalan parliament will also participate in the unity supporters' demonstration on Sunday, including Rajoy's conservative party members. Some European media outlets say that this march and the presence of pro-unity parties effectively mark the beginning of the election campaign for the upcoming elections in Catalonia in two months. The independence referendum in Catalonia was held on the first day of this month, despite the Madrid government's opposition, dragging Spain into one of its deepest political and social crises since the return of democracy in 1970. AFP has pointed to the complicated situation in the local police amid the crises that have arisen since the referendum; where some are supporters of independence and some are supporters of unity. A member of the Catalan police, whose name was not mentioned, told the agency, "The tension is high. There is a lot of fear and anxiety among all officers, whether supporters of independence or opponents." The Catalan police, "Mossos", is the only armed force directly managed by the local government. Additionally, nearly six thousand members of the national police of Spain are permanently present in this region.
Supporters of Catalonia's Unity with Spain March in Barcelona
Supporters of Catalonia's unity with Spain are set to march in Barcelona following a recent independence referendum that has intensified political tensions. The Catalan parliament voted for independence, leading to the dissolution of the parliament by the Spanish government and calls for new elections. This situation highlights the ongoing political crisis in Spain and the divided sentiments within Catalonia.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Supporters of Catalonia's unity with Spain are set to march in Barcelona following a recent independence referendum that resulted in a vote for separation from Spain. This demonstration comes after a large gathering of independence supporters, highlighting the deepening political crisis in the region.
- The Catalan parliament voted for independence with 70 in favor and 10 against.
- The Spanish Senate voted to impose direct control over Catalonia and dissolve its parliament.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Catalonia has a long history of seeking independence from Spain, with recent events escalating tensions between separatists and unionists. The independence referendum was deemed illegal by the Spanish government, leading to a constitutional crisis.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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