Spain celebrates National Day after Catalan vote

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Spain isn’t letting the political crisis with Catalonia stop it from celebrating a national holiday. People marked National Day by lining the streets of Madrid.

But while Madrid celebrated, there were demonstrations in Barcelona as part of the Catalan push for independence.

Reuters Photo‍

A small group of scuffles broke out on the streets of Barcelona. They were quickly contained by police, and the cause of the arguments were not entirely clear.

Many are unsettled by what may lie ahead.

“I don’t think things will return to normal yet,” said one boy, “because Puigdemont put the brakes on independence to try and have some dialogue that he himself doesn’t want.”

A woman CGTN talked to said, “Puigdemont has tried to kick the ball back to the government but it’s still in his court. And so you have an idea how I feel. I have never bought a Spanish flag, until today.”

Barcelona is not a part of Spain that usually gets that excited by National Day, but this year was an exception. The turnout was similar to Tuesday night when thousands stood outside parliament backing independence and calling for unity.

Crowds outside parliament calling for independence / AP Photo

That was the message in Madrid as well, with the might of the state to back it up. However, that may not deter those set on independence.

On Wednesday night, allies of the Catalan president urged him to clarify his stance by declaring independence, and said any attempt by Madrid to take over would be met with resistance.

“As I have said, repression has not served to stop this democratic process, so much so, as I understand it, that applying Article 155 would deepen the problem,” said Carme Forcadell, the Speaker of Catalan’s parliament.

“It would be worse because I am sure many people, many people are prepared to defend Catalonia’s self-government.”

AP Photo

The Spanish foreign minister has suggested regional elections could, at some point, be an option.

“It’s a possibility, we can imagine this,” Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said. “There is a part of our citizens who want exactly this. But as I told you, there is a whole panoply of measures that we can apply.”