Udenrigsudvalget 2017-18
URU Alm.del Bilag 6
Offentligt
GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN
PRESS CONFERENCE
VICEPRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT
On behalf of the Government of Spain, I am speaking to you today to assess the
situation created in Catalonia as a consequence of the decision by the Generalitat (the
Regional Government of Catalonia) to persist in its determination to carry out an illegal
referendum.
From the outset, this intention was illegal, undemocratic and contrary to normal
standards of coexistence. Moreover, it is incompatible with our rule of law. Therefore,
it could not take place and it has not taken place.
The rule of law has been applied, with firmness and proportionality, to frustrate all the
plans and objectives of the Generalitat. Even before today, the events prepared did
not provide the most basic, elementary guarantees of democratic procedure.
The instigators of the process turned a blind eye to all parliamentary rules, seeking to
provide it with a semblance of legality. But this semblance was immediately cast aside.
The subsequent implementation of the process is a matter of democratic shame, both
for the Catalan people and for the entire Spanish population, who have seen their
rights trampled on merely because they do not share the goal of independence.
The Generalitat (the Regional Government of Catalonia) decided to push forward with
the referendum despite having no mandate to do so and although the rule of law had
undercut its foundations: this
refere du
had o authorised
census, no legally-
constituted election committees, no accredited polling stations and no overseeing
body to corroborate the neutrality of the process.
The promoters were warned by international organisations that the procedure being
employed was not appropriate. Mayors, councillors, public servants and journalists all
denounced the undemocratic methods of which they were victims.
Despite the manifest unlawfulness
of today s eve ts
and the judicial orders against
them, the promoters refused to hold back. And, with no scruples at all, they decided to
mobilise their supporters to push their agenda, even using children and the elderly for
this purpose.
Today, following the latest actions by the judges, it was decided that the scant
guidelines issued by the Generalitat itself should be changed. And in an action
unprecedented in democratic society, less than an hour before the intended vote, the
Generalitat dispatched the last vestigial resemblance to a legal referendum.
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 6: Henvendelse af 3. oktober 2017 fra Spaniens ambassade vedr. situationen i Catalonien
The Generalitat has behaved with absolute irresponsibility and has sought to invalidate
the rule of law and justice in Catalonia. However, we have seen that the democratic
rule of law does function and that it has mechanisms to ensure that judicial decisions
are enforced. The absolute irresponsibility of the Generalitat has been overcome by
the professionalism of the State Security Forces.
These Security Forces have carried out the orders issued by the courts and have acted
with professionalism and in a proportional and proportionate manner. Their actions
have never been directed against the people but against the materials intended for the
referendum.
In this appearance before you all, I would like to acknowledge the work done by the
Security Forces in these difficult times. They have carried out their democratic duty,
they have complied with judicial decisions and they have responded to calls for
support from the Catalan regional police.
There has been no referendum or anything resembling one. It never made sense to
take this irrational step, and it makes no sense to continue.
I call upon the Generalitat to abandon this irresponsible attitude and to accept, here
and now, that what never was legal is, moreover, out of their reach. Continuing with
this farce will get them nowhere. They should put an end to it immediately.
It is in their power to put an end to this situation. Nothing good can come from it.
For many weeks, the Catalan people and the Spanish population as a whole have been
greatly concerned for their democracy. They have seen that certain elements wish to
abandon centuries of shared coexistence, and decades of democratic stability. And
that those who should be the first to uphold the law are, instead, boasting of
disobeying it.
But Spain is a democracy. One that is consolidated and strong, where citize
s
rights
and freedoms are above the personal ambitions of politicians. Today, these citizens
have seen their rights restored, their coexistence guaranteed and their freedoms
protected.
And we shall continue to safeguard our democracy, our freedom and harmony among
all citizens.