23/9/2017 Notes de context.

Departament d'Afers i Relacions Institucionals i Exteriors i Transparncia

Departament d'Afers i Relacions Institucionals i Exteriors i

Transparncia

Notes de context

Briefing #4 - 22.09.2017

On Wednesday 20th September, Spanish police forces raided the premises of 22 Catalan
official buildings -including 4 ministries-, searched private homes and detained 14 public
officials on charges of sedition and disobedience while fining some of them. This
constitutes a blatant attack against the principle of self-Government recognized in Article
137 of the Spanish Constitution (SC). In reaction, thousands of citizens took to the streets
not only across Catalonia but also in over 43 cities throughout Spain. In Barcelona, a 14-
hour demonstration brought together some 40,000 people.

This new peak in the Spanish states reaction against the referendum had already been
preceded by a number of developments.

On 14th September, Spanish Police entered the premises of four Catalan private media
outlets (El Punt Avui, Naci Digital, Rac Catal and Vilaweb) and identified their
journalists. This follows the search of the offices of the local newspaper El Vallenc on 9th
September and illustrates the attacks against the freedom of information and the
press recognised in art. 20 SC.
In the days following the start of the Referendum campaign on 14th September,
Spanish authorities have tried to suspend public events and political gatherings
throughout Catalonia. These episodes have often included the identification of
participants and confiscation of posters, leaflets and other electoral material,
undermining the freedom of assembly recognized in art. 21SC.
On 15th September, the Spanish Government announced a new set of measures which
block Catalonias access to its own resources, in yet another step towards the suspension
of Catalonias nancial autonomy in contravention of art. 156 SC.
On 19th Spetember, Spanish police forces confiscated 45,000 letters containing the
notifications to those citizens called to serve at polling stations on 1st During these
operations, the police opened official correspondence to/from city councils. The Spanish
Postal Service announced it had received instructions to stop the distribution of certain
magazines of private citizen associations and political parties. All these measures violate
the secrecy of correspondence recognized in art. 18 SC.
Under the pretence of defending a restricted interpretation of the Spanish Constitution, an
undeclared state of emergency has been imposed, which is resulting in an appalling
violation of the very rights and freedoms which the Spanish Constitution is meant to
uphold.

In spite of these events, preparations continue in order to ensure that all is ready for the
voting to go ahead on 1st October.
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23/9/2017 Notes de context. Departament d'Afers i Relacions Institucionals i Exteriors i Transparncia

Launch of the campaign: Over 9,000 people attended the first rally of the
referendums campaign on 14th September in Tarragona, where several political parties
and civil society organisations jointly called participants to vote in the upcoming
referendum. Other 600 gatherings organised by political parties are scheduled to take
place in the coming days, not to mention the hundreds planned by civil society
organisations.
First opinion polls released: The Spanish online newspaper es and the Catalan Ara
have released the results of two separate polls. According to the one commissioned by
eldiario.es, 59.9% of Catalans wish to vote on 1st October regardless of the referendum
having been prohibited. Of those who say will take part in the referendum, 59.5% are in
favour of independence and 30.7% are against. The opinion poll commissioned by Ara
shows similar estimates in terms of expected participation (60.2%) as well as a wide
support for a referendum on independence (70.7%). In terms of the preferred outcome,
44.1% of respondents say will vote Yes and 38.1% say will vote No.
Electoral Commission of Catalonia (ECC): The ECC has completed the accreditation
of 11 civil society organisations which had applied for advertising and news coverage in
publicly-owned spaces and media. Likewise, the ECC has finished the process for
political parties and interested organisations to appoint representatives and auditors to
attend the voting procedures. The ECC has also accredited international political
visitors, and concluded the process to select those citizens who will serve as polling
station agents.
Polling Stations: yesterday, the electoral administration has released all the details
regarding the number and location of polling stations. Citizens will now be able to check
the information on the polling station that they will need to go to in order to cast their
vote.
The Catalan Government reaffirms its commitment to providing the people of Catalonia
with the opportunity to democratically choose their political future on 1st October.

Briefing #3 - 15.09.2017

Brieng#3

This Monday, for the sixth consecutive year, over one million people flooded the streets of
Barcelona on 11th Septmeber -Catalonias national day- to call for a chance to vote on the
political future of Catalonia. In response to this sustained popular demand last week the
Parliament adopted the Law on the Referendum and the Law on Juridical Transition, and
the Decree calling the referendum on 1st October was signed by the Government.

Since the last briefing, preparations have continued in order to ensure that citizens are
able to cast their vote on 1st October.

Decree on Complementary Regulations: As provided for in article 9.2 of the Law on

the Referendum, the Government has adopted this Decree (see attached) which
thoroughly regulates the implementation of the voting and covers key matters such as
the electoral administration (Title II), the electoral roll (Title III), the representation of

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