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Updated at 8.30pm
CATALAN SEPARATISTS SECURED a majority in the region’s snap election yesterday, giving fresh impetus for their independence push and dealing a blow to the Spanish government.
The ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is currently in exile in Belgium, and has demanded to be heard by the EU on the calls for an independent state.
“I only demand to the European Commission or other European institutions, to listen, to listen to the Catalan people, not only the Spanish state,” he told reporters in Brussels.
The Commission has so far supported Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s position on the independence crisis.
“It has the right to sustain the Spanish position but I think it is necessary to listen to all the parties in this conflict. I think the Catalan people has the right to be listened to by the European Commission,” Puigdemont added.
However, it appears Puigdemont’s appeal has fallen, once again, on deaf ears, as Rojoy rejected the call to meet him, as he warned the new Catalan government should fully respect the law.
Speaking at a press conference, Rajoy said he would try to make an effort to hold talks with the new Catalan government. However, he didn’t clarify if he would meet with Puigdemont.
“The person I should be meeting with is with the one who won the elections, and that is Mrs Arrimadas.”
With Puigdemont’s play for EU support, and tense comments from Madrid, what will happen in Catalonia after these elections?
Why were these elections important?
Madrid had called yesterday’s vote after secessionists declared independence on October 27, amid Spain’s worst political crisis since democracy was reinstated following dictator Franco’s death in 1975.
The vote was widely seen as a moment of truth on the independence question, a hugely divisive issue for the wealthy northern region, that has rattled a Europe already shaken by Brexit.
But with the secessionists maintaining their parliamentary majority, the move to call snap polls appeared to backfire against Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who had sacked the regional government and dissolved its parliament.
Independence remains a very contentious issue in the region, however, and this was clearly demonstrated with the pro-Spanish unity party Ciudadanos securing the most number of seats for any one party with 37.
Unless the three pro-independence lists fail to clinch a deal to work together in the coming months, however, they will govern Catalonia with 70 seats – two less than their previous tally.
So what happens now?
First of all, the three independence parties need to work together to secure that overall parliament majority.
This will be far from simple.
The leader of the movement, Puigdemont, isn’t in the country and will surely be arrested for an outstanding warrant if and when he returns to Spain.
Other independence leaders, including Puigdemont’s former deputy Oriol Junqueras, are behind bars pending trial.
With this leadership void, the independence movement is at risk of failing to get its house in order which would mean a return to the polls.
“The biggest loser of election night was the People’s Party (PP) of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, which obtained only three seats,” said Antonio Barroso, a political risk analyst at Teneo Intelligence in London.
It is unclear whether Puigdemont will be able to be re-appointed… as he will be arrested if he comes back to Spain. As a result, the investiture process will be far from straightforward, and the risk of new elections in 2018 remains high. The investiture of a new first minister is likely to be a protracted and noisy process.
If it does manage to rule parliament, then the question of independence becomes high on the agenda again.
But, rather than having another vote like in October, it is expected that the separatists will try to enter negotiations with Madrid.
For all the talk that the separatist cause had been legitimised, analysts predict a softening around the edges of the independence bid.
The Catalan business elite, some of whose members have close links with Puigdemont’s party, “know that they have to give a fresh boost to tourism and the economy”, sociologist Narciso Michavila told AFP.
The Spanish government, however, may not so forthcoming with tough rhetoric from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his party.
Pablo Casado of Rajoy’s PP party warned the separatists that “whatever new government rules the region, (the separatists) know the consequences for breaking the law”. He has repeatedly said there can be no talks unless separatists abandon their independence drive.
At stake in the crisis is the economy of a region that has seen its tourism sector suffer and more than 3,100 companies – including the largest banks, utilities and insurers – move their legal headquarters out of Catalonia.
Yesterday’s election was victory for the separatist movement in Catalonia, but there is still a long way to go before their goal of a State independent of Spain can be achieved.
With reporting from AFP
Anyway we can stop shops and TV from displaying ads and stuff back in August September and October?
They are killing the Christmas spirit!
Total agree it is all about the money, cant remember the last xmas that had a good atmosphere. Shops are killing the whole spirit of it.
What kind of sick person decorates their tree with a cat? First Love/Hate and now this!
I actually had to get a smaller pop up tree cos the cat kept climbing the ine we had the lil bitch
The sound of Christmas in my house… cats knocking the tree over! It’s our mental kitten’s very first Christmas, I don’t expect see the angle tree topper make it past Christmas Eve!
I have two new kittens, they’ve already murdered 2 large house plants, the Christmas tree is doomed.
My sister in laws cat chewed the Christmas lights cable and won’t be doing it agin !
That’s catastrophic
Last year we got a retriver puppy (well she was 9 months old & a rescue) needless to say our tree lasted about a week before it was naked from the waist down from the puppy wagging her tail in it! Had to buy a second one a week before christmas!
Bah humbug, but in the alternative 8th december. Anyone breaking 8th december should be tied to a chair and made watch vicar of dibley christmas special for a minimum of 6 months
Cruel and unusual punishment, Ian.
But warranted.
Needs to be eliza. Early christmassers have shown they are at high risk of reoffending
Ian, that’s a little sadistic…
If I was being sadistic emma, id make them watch 2 weeks of “original irish comedy brought to you by rte”
That was meant to be a green thumb Ian…
Not to worry anita
Ian, that’s just sick…where do you come up with this crazy talk…that really would be the stuff of nightmares!
You might be onto something, Ian. Apart from T.V. torture being apt punishment for premature Christmas decorating, it could work wonders in the Irish prison system. What would you suggest be shown to deter reoffending?
At work the other night Auld Lange Syne starting blaring out of the speakers!!!! Way too early.
Auld Lang Syne is for New Years not for Christmas
When the Barrys Tea advert comes on the radio.
The first time I hear that man talking about the “trainset” brings me back to my own late Mum and Dad and how they made the Magic of Christmas happen.
I put it up the day the toy show is on ;)
November 30th with the toy show, wine and three cats, s’all good.
Normally around the first week of December here, I have young children who are begging me everyday to put the tree up already lol. I don’t mind, they won’t be young forever and I love the excitement it brings, roll on December
I agree the day the Toy show it starts the magic of Christmas in our home with the kids
After the 15th of December.
Are you the grinch?
According to some yes. No where in the bible does it say that Christmas is a 3 month event like it is now a days. I’m atheist, I’ll get into the spirit near the time. But first black sabbath is playing in Belfast.
Christmas eve
Why bother replying
If Mr James Murphy wants to put up the decorations on Christmas Eve then he is entitled to do so.
I’ve mine still up from last year :)
Saves you a hell of a load of time.
My parents have a tradition of putting up decorations on Christmas Eve and taking them down 12 days later. I think it’s lovely.
I was in Thailand and they had Christmas tree lights on trees and flashing lights all year round. That’s kind of nice too
Your not funny.
Jack, yep, up on Christmas Eve, down on 12th Night. Been that way since we married in 1972.
Not until the first of December. At least.
I’m thinking Christmas Eve…with the caveat that all decorations must be down before New Years Eve…
/ Bah Humbug!
// Was that the door that just hit me in the arse?!
July
1st weekend of December. That’s when I put mine up.
I usually have the decorators come round the first week of December.
It’s very annoying the way retailers bombard us with all things xmas from the beginning of November; the poor shop workers being subjected to endlessly looping xmas music compilations. By mid December I’ve had enough of xmas. I try to avoid doing anything other than essential shopping for those two months.
Whenever you feel like it, as long as they are not still hanging at Easter
Like me neighbour tommy lit up too !!
We havent put up a tree for 4 years now.
Reason: Just like the title pic, we have cats.
The perfect decorating effort lasts about a day until our guys “re-arrange” the decorations all over the floor on what they see as their awesome 6ft climbing frame!
They should go up on 1st Sept.
haha at the dislikes, as though its such an important debate.
I Hate cats..!! my MIL had a cat and she bloody better put up a tree or we’re not going there for Xmas..!! Xmas without a tree is just wrong! :-)
*has
Around the week of the 8th December and down no later then January 6th Xmas music shouldn’t be allowed until at least 1st December
I allways put them up round first of December watching toy show for my kids starts Xmas here don’t belive in taken them to Santa or anything like that during November because it’s a waste takes away from the special month
Belfast is tomorrow btw
Oops, so it is. I got over-excited by it all. Changed now. Cheers Tiger.
Still waiting for the 12 th bonfires to go out, before the Xmas deco goes up.
7 days before Christmas Day.
Usually not until the 14th, but as i’m going to decorate every part of the house this year I am starting on the 1st! Ps love the picture. Funny cos it’s true.
In the past 4 years I have been caught TWICE putting it up after 11pm on Christmas Eve night, strangely never met Santa even though I would be finished at 3am… #sixfoottree #iamsixfootthree
First saturday of december,,,
Just in time for the Late Late Toy Show
hahaha screw the late late, and screw the toy show too #humbug
To start I never use cut down trees I believe the trees should be left in the forests. We put a artificial tree up around December and it stays there until the sixth of January When the children were young they loved to see the tree going up and helped in the decorations and we continue now even they have grown up.
The day the Troika pull out, party on its Christmas
December 6th would be the time that Christmas Decorations should go up. That is the feast of St. Nichols.
Francis, would that be St Harvey Nichols ?
Putting up the decs early is one thing but leaving them up til near paddys day is another , that’s what my neighbour does !!
Surprised to see the 8th December camp is still so strong. I thought that tradition had died out.
Cancel the damned thing, and spare loads of money that u can then take to the grave!
There should be an option: ‘whenever you feel like it’. It doesn’t who puts up their decorations when.
Two Sundays before Christmas so about the 15 this year I think
First week in July
Those Jehovah’s are not as naive as you think.
Mine are up since last week including the Christmas tree ;)
Why take them down, year long Christmas spirit
Never take them down problem solved :))
Ebenezer was grand until those 3 ghosts bloody ruined him.
That’s one bold looking kity in that tree he /she has a …. Come and get me look
What the story with all the cat comments?
Don’t be so catty.
I said 1st December, but really the tree and decs go up the day the Toy Show is on and the box of Kimberley is “officially” opened. :-)
Usually when the Halloween decorations come down in early November, so it’s a month for Halloween and two months of Christmas in my house.
Not so much a house then is it, more a grotesque revolving holiday parlour of sweets and tinsels coming out the wazoo.
@Hippocrateeth
That gave me a giggle :)
The start of the second week of Dec. Those who put them up right away always seem to be the first to take them down funnily enough!
Decorations should be up for the toy show :-)
Up on the 19th down on the 31st.
I hang my socks up on xmas eve, after a long day of running around and santa never fills them?
Never!
Mine goes up 1st of Dec,a neighbour of mine puts theirs up every yr the day after Halloween… :/
Decorations n tree go up in my house on the morning of the Christmas toy show, for the lovely atmosphere :)
On the evening of the toy show
Need to take down the Clare flags and bunting around the house first.
Or I could have both up.
Ya Clare bunting with lights it is.
Easy solution….dont take them down
Versed of January!! Early an’ often.
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