Revolt or lower your head? Barcelona can't decide. After seven hours, the night meeting of the Catalan government with the pro-independence groups ended without a definitive solution. The appointment had been convened by the president of the Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont, to decide the strategy to adopt in the face of the commissioning of Catalonia by the Spanish government. There are two alternatives: to declare independence immediately or to seek the road to elections.
None of the executives who attended the night summits wanted to make public statements. The decision is in the hands of the president of the Generalitat, who published a tweet late in the evening with the hashtag 'Catalan Republic', in which he writes “We will not waste time with those who want to defeat the self-government of Catalonia. Go on".
According to El Pais, Puigdemont will continue to seek an understanding in the government again this morning. He has until 17pm: at that time the Catalan Parlament is convened, where the number one of Barcelona could present the declaration of independence, which could possibly be voted on tomorrow Friday. The Ciutadella park in Barcelona, which houses the headquarters of the Parliament, has been fenced off and closed to the public.
At the moment Puigdemont is caught between the request of the pro-independence left component of the Cup and of Esquerra Repubblicana, who ask for the unilateral proclamation of independence and of the Republic, and some moderates of the PDeCat, who instead want the decision to be accompanied by elections.
Meanwhile, Madrid must appoint the person who will lead the commission in charge of applying the measures of article 155 of the Constitution. Mariano Rajoy's government is apparently thinking of a figure with a more technical than political profile and most likely of Catalan origin. According to executive sources quoted by El Pais, the goal is to find the "least invasive" way possible to get to the commissioner. The measures will be voted on tomorrow by the Spanish Senate and will enter into force immediately. The first consequence will be the termination of office of the Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and his government.
A Spanish minister told reporters in the corridors of Congress that the reaction to the activation of Article 155 should only last about a week and "it will not be a Vietnam" for the Executive. Madrid, according to the Naciò Digital website, does not foresee prolonged strikes or sabotage of the new administration. According to the source, it could be "a passing malaise that will dilute as the new reality sets in".
Resistance to the takeover of the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan police, should also be contained, they believe. "It is a body with a strong spirit of hierarchy, the agents will follow the chain of command". The belief is also that Catalan officials "will not risk their careers: officials are officials".
