The PP government’s campaign: blunt words and political gestures against Catalonia’s independence process
Rajoy made an appearance with PSOE’s blessings to say it will all come to nothing and the Spanish needn’t fret, as long as he remains in office
The Spanish government had spent all morning claiming that the response to the declaration by Junts pel Sí (“Together for Yes”) and the CUP on Catalan independence had to be “measured”. On a day when the big story was going to be the police operation against the alleged corrupt dealings of the Pujol family, Madrid seemed determined to keep a low profile. But after several morning meetings, the Spanish president’s team chose to stage an urgent address, with a single question from the press pool. The objective was twofold: firstly, to send a stern message that even if the Catalan proposition --which Rajoy called “an act of provocation”-- is passed, it will be inconsequential because it will be suspended by the Constitution Court before any steps can be taken; and, secondly, to aggrandize president Rajoy’s public image.
Sources within the Spanish executive explained that, for obvious reasons, no actions could be taken against the declaration until it was approved by the Catalan parliament, even if the motion has a clear supporting majority. It was all an attempt to avoid the same feeling of inaction that some criticised Rajoy for on occasion of the mock independence vote on November 9 last year. Rajoy’s address on Tuesday afternoon was timed so that it would be carried live on the TV news and its purpose was to make it clear that the law will prevail. “For as long as I am president”, he said, “Spain will remain a nation of free equals”. He stated that much immediately after indicating that he wished to send “a reassuring message”. The Spanish president referred to himself as a supporter “of dialogue and moderation”, but also a “firm supporter” of the rule of law and peaceful coexistence.
Rajoy’s verbal bluntness is backed by a recent reform of the Spanish Constitutional Court, which has been granted powers to impeach any official who fails to comply with the court’s rulings, a measure that might be used against Catalan Speaker Carme Forcadell, should the Catalan parliament pass the bills mentioned in the resolution despite a Court ban. For now, the Spanish government has sent a copy of the proposition filed by the two secessionist groups in Barcelona to the State’s legal services so that they may start drafting an appeal to the Constitutional Court and determine whether any other steps should be taken.
What will happen if the Catalan parliament fails to obey the Spanish Constitutional Court?
Mariano Rajoy spoke about the Court and its reform, but also about other “political” measures. He was referring to the “silver bullet” which he keeps in the chamber: article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which establishes that Catalonia’s devolved powers may be suspended at the government’s request, provided this is backed by a majority in the Spanish Senate. Both the PP and the Spanish government emphasised that the elections called for December 20 do not deprive the Spanish parliament of its legislative powers, even though invoking article 155 would be an extreme measure.
The “precision tool” available before it comes to that is the reform of the Constitutional Court (CC). PP’s Speaker in Madrid’s parliament, Rafael Hernando, mentioned that Rajoy will request that the breakaway declaration be suspended immediately by the CC. But what will happen if the Catalan parliament fails to comply with the Constitutional Court’s order? Hernando stated that “any challenge must be faced in a measured manner”. The PP believes that all that we have for now is “a statement in writing” and that the CC “has been granted powers to act in the event of a rebellion”.
The PSOE extends its support to Rajoy
The ancient bipartisan rivalry has been set aside in response to the secessionist declaration. PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez rushed to phone Spanish president Mariano Rajoy to “keep an open line of communication” on the matter. Speaking from Portugalete (Bilbao, Basque Country), the Spanish socialist leader argued that the “antidemocratic secessionist challenge” can be beaten with “the law, the ballots, politics and the argument of dialogue” and he asked Catalans and Spaniards to trust “Spain’s strengths”. Rajoy also spoke to Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera, given that his party is the main unionist group in Catalonia. However, he did not speak to the proponents of the draft motion nor to Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias, who supports self-determination. Rajoy claims that he does not know Iglesias’ phone number.
