Puigdemont leaves to the Parliament the Catalan independence

USPA NEWS - Afraid of the consequences? Weakness in the face of pressures? Finding an explanation for the two chaotic days that Catalonia experienced between Wednesday and Thursday can be difficult. The only one certain thing is that the chaos has settled in the Catalonia politics, threatened of intervention by the Spanish Government. The Spanish Senate will approve on Friday the application of article 155 of the Constitution, which empowers the Government of the Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to take control of the rebel region, the same day that the Catalan Parliament can declare independence.

On Thursday it dawned hopefully on a settlement of the confrontation between the Government of Spain and Catalonia. The Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, seemed ready to give up the unilateral declaration of independence and to call elections. The rumor was receiving in the street, where several hundred people concentrated, with shouts of “traitor“ directed to the president of the regional government of Catalonia. In the afternoon, Mr. Puigdemont would recognize that he was really planned to call elections. However, the pressures within his own party and his government partners made him change this mind. Also the answer of the Spanish Government: Prime Minister Rajoy warned that the elections will no prevent the application of 155. Puigdemont asked for legal immunity in exchange for the elections, which was no accepted by Rajoy.

With that background, Mr. Puigdemont, who faces charges of rebellion punished with up to30 years in prison if he declares independence, transferred the responsibility to the Parliament, which is in plenary session and could declare the independence of Catalonia on Friday. At the same time, in Madrid, the Senate will approve the application of article 155 and the Government of the Prime Minister Rajoy will assume control of Catalonia immediately. But control of Catalonia will not be easy. The Spanish Government has reduced its presence to a symbolic 6% at the present time. And officials who travel to Catalonia to fulfill the mandate of the Spanish Government will find a divided society and a hostile and violent environment. Catalonia is still on the brink of civil war.