Catalonia Referendum: Vote would be unconstitutional says Spainish government - BBC News

The Spanish Government has defended its decision to send thousands of extra police officers to Catalonia to try to stop an independence referendum taking place. The region's devolved government wants schools to open as polling stations on Sunday. But in a BBC interview, the Education Minister Inigo Mendez insisted any vote would be illegal and cannot take place. Our correspondent Tom Burridge reports from Madrid and Barcelona.

[MsPierre]

Mossos d'Esquadra are not "local police", but regional police. The locals are the guardia urbana in Barcelona. Really those British journalists don't go very often out of their "anglosaxon" world...

[WitsEnds]

Amusing to see how most of the comments from people writing "free catalonia!" have arab and african names.

[danialashraf]

Dear BBC News, learn how to spell Spanish and not Spainish...

[fozziebear]

He is right. Although it seems to be, that the Spanish government failed before in not recognizing enough the needs of Catalonia. Spain is a democratic constitutional state. You cannot compare this referendum with Jugoslavia in the 80th and 90th or other states who wanted to be independent from a kingdom or a dictatorship. It isn't that easy. The rule of law is on the side of Spain. Which doesn't mean the Spanish government missed the opportunity since decades to react right - as far I can tell, maybe I am wrong, I am not Spanish. It is a disaster for Spain, that's for sure.
Love that country anyway and I wish they'll find a good and peaceful solution for Spain, for Catalonia and Europe.

[amarLoveMore]

The Mexican Americans have more claim for independence on the whole western part of the United States than the Catalans will ever have in Spain. If you would argue that cultural, ethnic and historic dwelling governs the right for independence, then the Mexican Americans have a much stronger claim for claiming the entire western United States as an independent country from the United States of America, the United States of Mexico and the Kingdom of Spain, for that "historic" matter! So, if you think Catalonia deserves independence, then just give all the western United States to "La Raza" Chicano Power - Mexican American, and recognize it as the Aztlan Nation.

The Catalan argument fomenting this independence movement is based on corrupt politicians wanting to break the law in hopes of keeping fraudulently obtained funds.

[darylmars]

Everyone wants independence these days :/

[Robomatix]

Just because it's illegal doesnt mean you need to beat the shit out of people, violating their human rights

[ShinkuRosetta]

How about doing this the legal way instead of holding an illegal referendum?

[vinm]

Rajoy is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[sheryllarmer]

He's right, Spain have democratic mechanisms, checks, balances and recourse to change things peacefully through democracy in place within their Constitution if the will exists to. Many are saying the separatists have formed a cabal of sorts within the political institutions and are effectively a minority dictating to a majority who have no wish to change constructional position and secede . The only way it can be resolved is through an official referendum with safeguards put in place to ensure the integrity of results. The Catalonian nationalists will have to work with the central government toward these amendments, they will never be taken seriously otherwise. An insurgency followed by a coup d'etat will just plunge the region into turmoil and uncertainty.

[ToulKorkMan]

It is illegal when it is against your agenda.

[Jamal-Ahmed]

i see where he's coming from. That referendum is not in line with the constitution. No one is against votes. It's about making sure the referendum is held in a constitutional manner.

[arisbel]

Spainish : not exactly spanish but very close to

[Kriegtime]

You'd think a British broadcaster could spell "Spanish" correctly...

[AndreasP]

Lol the constitution of syria doesnt allow a referendum so assad is the good guy here

[allianceofunitedcommunitie]

When 13 colonies declared independence, was it constitutional by British law???
When Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria declared independence, was it constitutional by Ottoman law???
When Algeria declared independence, was it constitutional by French law???
When I declared independence, it means I want an independence war and I will defeat the fascist state in battlefield!!!

[vacoum]

Double standards. Europe has a new standard to beat peaceful people. Like in Africa. This is not democracy. I am shocked.

[michaelross]

To all international people who may be watching the news and what it is happening in the Spanish region of Catalonia.

It might seem that Spain is forbidding Catalonia to vote, to fulfill its democratic right to self-determination. It looks like it is using the police and the strength of the State to persecute freedom fighters. This is not true.

Please, do not forget that voting is not democratic by itself; voting is just one of the premises together with others to build and maintain a democracy. The other premises are to respect the law (democratically approved), and to decide (to vote) over the matters that we are entitled to.
I.e. the House of Representatives of Tennessee could unanimously vote to declare war over Quebec; yes, they would vote, but still that is not democratic because they do not have the power to do so.

Venezuela can call its citizens to vote for a parallel constitutive Congress (as they did), but that was not democratic as they did not abide by its very own Constitution.
They city hall of Paris could vote to expel Gypsy citizens from town, but that would not be democratic as it goes against human rights.

PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE the act of voting with the great principle of democracy.
Catalonia's parliament (with a seat majority but only a 48% of the popular vote) has imposed an unconstitutional law to vote for independence through an illegal referendum prohibited by our Constitutional Court in order to set an atmosphere of violence willing to get pictures and tweets of an allege repressive police and State to convince the International Community that Spain is not democratic, but a dictatorship.

Do not believe them, do not let them deceive you. Spain became a strong, progressive, modern democracy in 1978 and approved a Constitution which is being breached today. Just for information, Catalonia was the most supportive region of Spain to that Constitution in 1978 referendum.

A five-century united country will not be vanished today.
Long live Spain, long live Spanish Catalonia and long live real democracy: vote, law and respect to all!

[Davbach]

"Vote would be unconstitutional" says Spainish government - Yes BBC, the Catalan people must be more *"Spain-ish"* .

[SocietyOfTheSpectacl]

jimmy saville broadcasting Corpse Aeration.