FORMATION of the new Catalan executive was yesterday put on hold after President Quim Torra said he would seek legal advice on the Spanish Government’s blocking of the appointments of four of his nominated ministers.
When he was sworn in as president last week, Torra said a priority was reinstating ministers who had been jailed or sought refuge abroad after the October independence referendum.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was expected to withdraw the direct rule he imposed on Catalonia once the new government was appointed, but he backtracked on that when Torra revealed his nominees.
READ MORE: Catalans thank National reporter with unique sporran
Among them were Jordi Turull and Josep Rull, who are both imprisoned without trial, and Lluis Puig and Toni Comin, who are in self-imposed exile in Brussels.
All are facing charges of rebellion for their part in the independence push.
However, Torra believes the suspension of self-rule under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution was illegitimate, therefore officials from the government of ousted president Carles Puigdemont, should be given back their jobs.
READ MORE: Mariano Rajoy on verge of fresh crisis over Catalonia
Rajoy’s conservative government sees it as a pro-independence act of defiance blocking the road to Catalan institutions returning to normality.
A statement from Torra’s office yesterday signalled his determination: “The Catalan people, as a whole, have the right to have a new government.
“Only Spain’s actions are impeding the formation of a new government, thus extending the application of Article 155 and therefore the suspension of self-government in the country.”
Xavier Domenech, leader of the non-aligned Catalunya en Comu-Podem (In Common We Can), said the appointment of ministers in jail or abroad was an act of protest “with no real effect”. He said the four were entitled to be reinstated, but he believed that Catalan ministers should effectively be “in the country”.
Saenz de Santamaría, the Spanish Vice President, said the Madrid Government would not publish the nominees’ names in the official gazette – a formal requirement – and added: “It is in the hands of the lord Torra. He knows what he must do to put an end to 155.”
Meanwhile, Spanish authorities are taking action to stem the tide of yellow that has flooded Catalonia, in demonstrations, urban furniture, lapel badges and even sporrans.
The colour has become synonymous with the cause of pro-indy Catalan political prisoners, ministers in exile – including Clara Ponsati in Scotland – and most of the Puigdemont cabinet.
Rajoy’s delegate in Catalonia, Enric Millo, has written to nearly 1000 Catalan mayors urging them to maintain “neutrality” in public spaces. He said they were obliged to disallow such symbols, which had led to some streets and public buildings “being occupied by these biased symbols”.
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