Spain goes from bad to worse

[OFSO]

Sixteen people, including two provincial mayors, were detained in Province Girona yesterday by masked and hooded men who acosted them on the way to work and forced them into automobiles. They were driven to Girona police station where only then did their assailants revealed themselves as members of the Spanish national police force investigating separatism protests in October 2018 when access to the high-speed train station was temporarily blocked. None of the detained persons was charged - one was a woman who had been trying to catch her train - and all were released on the afternoon of the same day. Students fearing similar abductions refused to leave Girona university yesterday until after normal police working hours. (Quote, El Punt Avui newspaper, today.)

[OFSO]

The right wing Vox party, now a force in Andalucia, wants to ban legal aid for women who are victims of domestic violence as its discriminatory. This is against the background of the latest murder of a woman in Spain.

[OFSO]

Fighting in Barcelona today. Taxi Drivers 1, Uber 0.

[Cacophonix]

Fighting in Barcelona today. Taxi Drivers 1, Uber 0.

The Spanish, have always been fighting!

Forget Pamplona. Are we not men?

I am proud to say that a Caco family member, flew and fought against the **** fascist in Ethiopia and later here in Britain.

These days, some of you here sound like fascists!

What think you?

Capetonian?

Caco

[Sisemen]

These days, some of you here sound like fascists!

Right! That's you against the wall when we take over!!

[OFSO]

I don't give a monkey's left testicle what the woppos, dagos, krauts, cloggies, garlic-chewers or ros'bifs get up to in their own countries, but it amazes me how the European Commission never says a word about the government's human right abuses in Spain. Currently women marching in Barcelona about murders being ignored by the authorities if committed by men, and the Catalan politicians still in prison, 16 months now, awaiting charges.

[Capetonian]

I am frequently told I am a fascist, ergo, I must be one.

[OFSO]

Last year a brawl broke out in a bar in Spain. Nothing unusual there. Punch-ups happen all over the world, especially at the weekend. The five participants, however, have been sentenced to over 60 years in prison by the Spanish judge. How come ? Well, because the bar was in the Basque homeland, the Spanish prosecutor cited ETA activities as the cause of the disagreement and the men were arraigned as terrorists. All gone to Appeal, now, but don't hold your breath.

[OFSO]

The Catalan politicians who have been imprisoned since October 2017 were today transported before dawn from prisons to Madrid for trial. Despite the supposed secrecy it was known in advance and roads were lined with Catalan supporters waving flags of independence and applauding the politicians for putting the freedom of their land ahead of their own liberty. Many face sentences of over 30 years for 'rebellion'.

[OFSO]

Just to show that Saint Theresa isn't the only person who has lost their grasp on realpolitik:

Sanchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, needs the support of the Catalans to stay in power. However the rabid dogs of the right and far right are poised to tear him apart if he ever shows signs of sympathy for Separatism.

Hence he offered to appoint an interlocutory to talk to the Catalans. This was refused: they want direct discussions.

He went ahead anyway and the Catalans refused the meeting, as they had said they would, and threaten now to withdraw support for his 2019 budget to be voted upon next Wednesday.

Also infuriated, the right and far right organised a massive demonstration in Madrid over the weekend at which Sanchez was denounced as a traitor to Spain, a saboteur of Spains 'democracy' (don't laugh) not worthy to lick the soles of Franco's boots, and so on.

Can I predict the future ? Yes. A General Election looms at which Sanchez and his hapless socialists will be ejected and replaced by the fascist hard right parties in coalition, Catalunia be utterly crushed yet again, with their politicians imprisoned for 20-30 years for rebellion, taxes on the poor will go up and on the rich will come down, trials for 'terrorism' i.e. insulting the State or mocking the King will continue, and as ever Brussels will look the other way.

Off to the UK for a month this week, where in comparison it all seems a haven of sanity.

[BenThere]

I am frequently told I am a fascist, ergo, I must be one.

The real fascist is the one who accuses everyone else of being a fascist. Same principle applies to most accusations of racism and all the phobias. The accusers count on the stoic demeanor of those they demonize, thinking they have immunity and impunity. But at some point, when it goes too far, the sh!t hits the fan.

I think there are more of us than there are of them, though we are mostly silent. Also, they are generally weak, both in character and capabilities, and we are strong.

[OFSO]

One thing living in Spain brought home is that nothing changes. The old fascist families and the church who backed Franco are still there, still in power, still pulling the strings. Attitudes towards the current kiddy-fiddling expose of priests in Spain at monastaries and religious schools are enlightening. Looking at/listening to the judges in Madrid today trying the Catalans says it all.

[Undried Plum]

What is the mood music among the Cataloon separatists?

Here in the putative Sheeple's Republic of Socialist Jockistan, the ruling Partei declares that we should have more in common with Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Cyprus than with the rest of Britain and that we should forever more be a subjugate of the EUrostocracy.

What say the Cataloons on the matter of separation from the EU?

Separately, so to speak, what do they say they on the matter of separatism of Gibraltar from the motherland; and what do they say about the importance of self-determination in such matters?

[OFSO]

As a friend of mine said, as long as the wine is cheap, the food excellent and the sun shines, who cares ? That's the attitude of half the Catalans. The other half are all Separatists. Which is why in the Referendum 50% of the public voted 100% in favour. Very much pro EU membership. Never heard Gibraltar mentioned, it's the Spanish who want to recover it for their "honour". Catalans look north.

[Capetonian]

Whilst Spain holds onto its occupied territories of Ceuta and Mellilla it has very little leverage to talk about 'recovering' Gibraltar.

[OFSO]

Well, it happened. The Spanish government's 2019 Budget failed to pass, thanks to the Catalans and others withdrawing support. Prime Minister Sanchez (been in power for less than a year) left the room without saying a word. Opposition parties called for a snap General Election. I see Spain heading into a polarised "USA situation", with the hard right having a majority over the left and separatistas and no middle ground. Having a weak and generally discounted monarch doesn't help, either.

[llondel]

Whilst Spain holds onto its occupied territories of Ceuta and Mellilla it has very little leverage to talk about 'recovering' Gibraltar.

Ah, but that's an entirely different matter, any similarity is entirely coincidental.

(It probably is, given that the Spanish agreed to give up all claim on Gibraltar in the Treaty of Utrecht.)

[Rwy in Sight]

I am frequently told I am a fascist, ergo, I must be one.

A female sociologist friend (whom Slasher would consider her really cool) keeps calling me fascist when she does not like my views. Often it makes my proud.

However here people mainly from the left like to call fascist their opponents without any justification.

[OFSO]

A very interesting hour long discussion on French TV last night, theme "Wither Spain". Lawyers, specialists in mediation, politicians from Spanish parties left right and centre. All agreed that the present government has lost it, will have to stand down with a general election in mid-April. All agreed outcome very difficult with extreme far right Vox party reducing any chance of a majority or near-majority government to zero. All agree after the Catalan politicians have been sentenced in May to 30 years in jail there will be no support for anyone. All agree disaster looms. Attempt to sieze power by Vox plus the military ?

[Krystal n Chips]

Not for much longer..the chaos that is, because, coming soon, we, the UK will be sorting them out once and for all !

You know how these matters can escalate very quickly, and lets be fair, failing politicians are always quick to grasp an opportunity to save their tarnished reputations.....see 1982 for example....so here's Treeza's moment of salvation !....

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... ish-waters