I already denounced such behavior, which reached its maximum expression when he presented the ovation received by the former mayor Pasqual Maragall in the Vall d'Hebrón stadium (totally crowded with 3,500 people - to listen to Pablo Iglesias) as a boo.
The great applause that the popular former mayor of Barcelona received when entering the stadium became a boo in the report written the following day by the correspondent of this newspaper, Mr. Francesco Manetto.
And, as might be expected, this news was reproduced in many other contributions in such a journal, as in the column of the organic intellectual of pujolismo, Mr. Joan B. Culla, who referred to such a supposed boo as a clear indicator of the supposed We can anti-naturalism.
The great international media have dedicated this Tuesday very preferential attention to what happened in Catalonia practically to the minute.
And, as might be expected, this news was reproduced in many other contributions in such a journal, as in the column of the organic intellectual of pujolismo, Mr. Joan B. Culla, who referred to such a supposed boo as a clear indicator of the supposed We can anti-naturalism.
I wrote to the press requesting that they correct this information, without receiving any response. They never did the correction (see my article Manipulations and Lies in the 'Country', 30.12.14).
I have been a victim of insults and falsehoods frequently, without ever having published my answers.
The last manipulation and falsification of El País: the coverage of what happens in Catalonia
But I will only refer to a news in which I am, once again, the victim of a gross manipulation, lacking the slightest journalistic ethics when they refer to my person as one of the "intellectuals who have been vehemently defending the secession of Catalonia of Spain".
But I will only refer to a news in which I am, once again, the victim of a gross manipulation, lacking the slightest journalistic ethics when they refer to my person as one of the "intellectuals who have been vehemently defending the secession of Catalonia of Spain".
I have to say that even for the standards of lying and manipulation to which we are accustomed The Country under Antonio Caño, this lie and manipulation manages to be a record. I had to read the article twice, because the audacity (in popular language, the hard face) reached a record. But let us first look at what is said and how it is said.
In an article titled "Teachers Activists of Independence," subtitled "A group of Catalan teachers in the United States has been defending secession for years" (09.10.17), my name appears as one of such secessionists, along with nothing less than the most liberal and more independent economist, and who appears most frequently in the media of the government of Junts Pel Yes, Mr. Sala i Martín, who is precisely one of the people I have criticized most in Catalonia and in Spain for his extremist neoliberalism and the low credibility and rigor it presents in its arguments, including economic fallacies in favor of secession.
The degree of ignorance of my stance and my work, which the paper's correspondent, Joan Faus writes, is enormous, because my criticism and even denunciation of such an economist and his falsifications in his independence campaign is well known and has been published extensively, both in Catalonia and Spain as in the US.
But, to make matters worse, the proof that Mr. Joan Faus shows as an example of my supposedly secessionist sensitivity is that I signed an "Open Letter on political repression in Catalonia" along with my friend Noam Chomsky and 47 other teachers.
This letter, however, does not speak of secession.
What it does is denounce the repression that the Spanish State is imposing on the population and the Catalan authorities, a repression that reached its maximum expression in the brutal aggression that the public institutions of the Generalitat, including the Catalan public universities, received, facts denounced by the press and the international community, on 1 October.
Such repression, and later police brutality of October 1, had elements common to the police repression of the dictatorial regime that I lived in the fifties in Barcelona, when I participated in antifasicsta resistance.
It is also well known that I am a member of the Consejo Provincia Nacional de Podemos and the Executive of Catalonia in Comú, both critics with the referendum, even though they defend the right of the citizens of Catalonia to decide their articulation with the Spanish State, which has led them to support such mobilization as an act of affirmation of that right, without recognizing such mobilization as a referendum.
The referendum is an instrument to exercise the right to decide, but this right includes the right to choose between several alternatives, one of which is secession, an alternative that neither I nor any of these political formations favors.
In addition, whatever was the result of the October 1 referendum (which could not be defined as such, since it was not agreed with the central state, therefore not having the guarantees required by a referendum), such a result should be negotiated with the central government.
Being in favor of the right to decide - sovereignty - is not synonymous with asking for the secession of Catalonia.
There is a difference between sovereignty and independence, a distinction that seems too complex and difficult to understand for a newspaper so propagandistic in favor of the status quo (which has led us to the current situation) as is El País.
One last observation.
I have to ask my readers to help me spread this article that tries to correct the lies and falsehoods that constantly appear in El País, and denounce such behavior; and if they share my anger, write to the director of El País criticizing it, as I myself have done. Here I reproduce the note that I sent to El País:
In his article today, "The academics activists of independence"; (9/10/2017, p.26), I am very surprised to see my name on the list, since I am not a secessionist.
The letter I signed, to which the article refers, did not call for secession, but protested for the repression of the state, preventing the development of a referendum, a repression that reached its maximum expression on October 1. The article confuses the demand for a referendum, which supports the majority of the population in Catalonia, with the demand for secession.
In fact, I believe I was one of the most critical professors of the independentistas authors that you mention.
Your correspondent should have been better informed of my work.
I hope (albeit with some skepticism) that El País rectify these falsehoods for journalistic ethics and dignity.
Vicenç Navarro is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy. University Pompeu Fabra
Vicenç Navarro is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy. University Pompeu Fabra
The British television network BBC, opens its digital version with the events in Barcelona and a small analysis of Tom Burridge who wondered, before knowing the speech of Puigdemont , if the president would fulfill "his threat" to proclaim independence
or whether "it would announce a more nuanced strategy, still relying on one day to produce an adequate and recognized referendum"
"Under pressure to act, the Spanish Government has also made strong warnings.
If the order arrives, thousands of Spanish policemen, who are in Barcelona, could intervene. "
The BBC reports a review of what has happened in recent years, since the ruling of the Constitutional Court that invalidated parts of the Estatut in 2010.
The BBC reports a review of what has happened in recent years, since the ruling of the Constitutional Court that invalidated parts of the Estatut in 2010.
"The economic crisis further fueled discontent and pro-independence parties took power in the 2015 elections.
Attempts to hold a Scottish-style legal referendum have gone nowhere with the Spanish government, "he says.
The British newspaper ' The Guardian' also opens its digital version with Catalunya. "The Catalan government suspends the declaration of independence, " he says.
The information affirms that Puigdemont has stopped at the last moment "in an unprecedented confrontation with the Spanish Government"
and stresses that the suspension is "for a few weeks, to open a period of dialogue." The newspaper emphasizes that Puigdemont asked for mediation days ago.
In Northern Ireland theypublish an article by Sinn Fein's president, Gerry Adams, in which he stresses that "Europe is facing its greatest crisis since the Balkan wars"and that "there is no intractable conflict" , he recalls and such as the experience of the peace process in Northern Ireland, of which he was and remains one of the protagonists, and advocates international mediation on the question of Catalonia.
"Any refusal by the international community to get involved - hiding behind the argument that it is an internal matter of Spain - puts at risk the possibility of reaching a peaceful solution to this complex situation," he says.
The vast majority of the websites of the major newspapers have been updated to the minute. This is the case of The New York Times.
Raphael Minder(correspondent of the US newspaper in Spain) and Patrick Kingsley write that
"Puigdemont made a carefully worded statement announcing Spain's secession from the region and immediately suspending the process to allow a" dialogue "with the central government in Madrid."
The chronicle highlights Puigdemont's claim that "Catalonia has won the right to independence"but adds that the president of the Generalitat "has left the door open to negotiations with Madrid, in an apparent attempt to avoid the worst punitive measures which Madrid could apply. "
The information adds that "Rajoy has rejected any dialogue with Catalan separatists if they do not abandon plans for secession, and Puigdemont and his allies are at risk of arrest for sedition and the Catalan Parliament at risk of being dismantled. "
The chronicle also reflects the atmosphere in Parliament stating that "the deputies of opposing forces crossed each other without looking in the eye."
The influential "Financial Times" also opens its digital edition as the main news story and with great characters with the headline "The Catalan leader 'suspends' independence and asks for dialogue."
After giving an account of the key phrases of Puigdemont's speech, the press recalled that "the Catalan government is putting its hopes in an international mediation and puts pressure on European leaders to come to their aid."
The newspaper recalled that Madrid "had threatened to suspend autonomy and even imprison Puigdemont if it declared independence." And he adds that "it is not clear how Madrid will react to the speech with this deferred declaration."
The French newspaper 'Liberation' opens the cover of its digital edition with information about Catalunya, with a direct thread to the minute: "Puigdemont: Catalunya will be independent in the form of Republic",titles with great characters and states in the subtitle: "Ante the Catalan Parliament, the president of the region reaffirms his will for independence but suspends the process to appease [the spirits] ".
The US chain CNN titled: Independence of Catalonia, suspended: can the dialogue end the uncertainty?
In his expected speech Tuesday, Carles Puigdemont seemed to listen to the calls of many political leaders: he was willing to dialogue to find a negotiated solution to the desire to separate from Spain and left in suspense the declaration of independence.
The US chain CNN titled: Independence of Catalonia, suspended: can the dialogue end the uncertainty?
In his expected speech Tuesday, Carles Puigdemont seemed to listen to the calls of many political leaders: he was willing to dialogue to find a negotiated solution to the desire to separate from Spain and left in suspense the declaration of independence.
"The moment is very serious and we must all assume our responsibilities," said Carles Puigdemont, the resident of the Generalitat de Catalunya, in a session of the Catalan Parliament on Tuesday, without formally declaring the independence of the community unilaterally.
"Catalonia has earned its right to be an independent state, to be heard and respected," hesaid.
The opinions were mixed in the Catalan parliament. Although the Catalan president had the support of his followers, there were expressions of rejection against the option of independence. The local leader of the Citizens party, Inés Arrimadas, attacked Puigdemont and accused him of dividing the Catalans. He rejected the idea that the Catalans were united around independence. Shortly after, dozens of independentistas politicians signed a joint declaration in which it declares constituted "the Catalan Republic, like independent and sovereign State". They also talk about opening negotiations with the Spanish state without preconditions.
Vice-President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría announced at a press conference after the speech of Puigdemont that the President of Government Mariano Rajoy convened an Extraordinary Council of Ministers for Wednesday at 9 am local time. Rajoy has intensified contacts with leaders of political parties to issue a statement tomorrow. The central government indicates that Catalonia is in a higher level of uncertainty and that Madrid does not recognize the validity of the referendum.
International Reactions
The Mexican Foreign Minister, Luis Videgaray,set the position before the possibility of political dialogue failure and the Catalan government unilaterally declare independence.
The Mexican Foreign Minister, Luis Videgaray,set the position before the possibility of political dialogue failure and the Catalan government unilaterally declare independence.
The official said that Mexico will not recognize Catalonia as an independent state , that Mexico vows for the unity of Spain and that it advocates a peaceful and legal solution that allows to overcome the divisions.
Italy also rejected the statement of the head of the government of Catalonia.
In a statement, the Italian foreign minister said that the unilateral declaration of independence is unacceptable.
The Italian government said it reiterated confidence in the Spanish government's ability to protect constitutional order and legality in order to ensure respect for the rights of all citizens.
The Government conjugates two ideas after the declaration of the president of the Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont,
the first that this Tuesday in the Parliament "was not a resignation to anything" but a "dead time" to give an opportunity to dialogue with the State Government,
and the second, that if there is no dialogue, and the Cabinet of Rajoy applies the 155, the plan put forward by the president and the laws of rupture, which indicate that it should be the Parlament who approves a declaration of independence, will be launched.
"I assume the mandate of the people of Catalonia to be an independent State in the form of a Republic."
Puigdemont has proclaimed the Catalan Republic and suspended that independence pending a dialogue with the PP government in Madrid with international mediation.
Today, the President of the Council of Europe, the Polish Tusk, has called him: "President Puigdemont, do not announce anything that makes dialogue impossible". Yesterday Merkel called Rajoy urging him to seek a dialogue.
Jaume Matas (PP), the exponent of the Balearic Government condemned for corruption, advised the businessman Bartolomé Cursach to invest in nearby lots of the neighborhood of the Secar de la Real, since he knew that in this area of Palma would benefit from urban redevelopment, as a result of which it was going to be where the hospital of Son Espases would be located.
The judge of the National Court Jose de la Mata has asked the companion in this body and instructor of the 'case Lezo' Manuel García-Castellón the "full transcription and recording" of the conversation between the ex-president of the PP of Madrid Ignacio González - currently in prison for this last procedure - and the exministro of the PP Eduardo Zaplana on the existence of a video in which they would speak of an alleged blackmail to the president of the Government, Mariano Rajoy.
Rajoy entrenched in the legal front and Puigdemont without foreseeing the supposed "disastrous" consequences for Catalonia of a possible independence.
The German historian Walther Bernecker analyzes the state of the conflict: "I think one of Rajoy's mistakes has been to intrude on the legal aspect. He has not acted because he said:" The Constitution, the laws, the Statute of autonomy are my side". But a politician has to do politics and not only rely on the law, however much he may attend. "
