Notícies Divendres 24.01.2014 11:03

Spanish Government launches plan against Catalan independence

Declarations from Foreign Affairs and Justice Ministers send warning messages to Catalonia

Thursday, two Spanish Ministers sent two different warnings to Catalonia. First, Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, announced an 'immediate' loss of wealth for an independent Catalonia of '25% or 30%', 'according to several studies', which he did not mention by name. Margallo warned Catalans about the 'harmful and lethal consequences' that independence would bring. He also stated that the self-determination process can also cause 'loss of employment' since it is hurting Spain’s image abroad. Next, Spain's Justice Minister, Alberto Ruíz Gallardón, guaranteed that 'Spain has the necessary tools to defend […] its national sovereignty, which rests in the hands of its citizens as a whole'. In addition, Gallardón emphasized that 'Spain is a great nation that is worth living in and loving, and which is worth fighting for'. Both García-Margallo and Gallardón are members of the People's Party (PP).

Margallo has mobilized all the embassies

In a radio interview at Onda Cero, José Manuel García-Margallo sent an advisory message to Catalans about 'the harmful and lethal consequences' of independence from Spain. The arguments are similar to the 210-page memo that the Spanish Foreign Affairs Ministry sent a few weeks ago to all its embassies and top officials, presenting a list of arguments against Catalonia’s independence. Margallo mentioned the letter sent by the President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, to international leaders, that explained the self-determination process. The Spanish Minister noted the absence of replies from most of the recipients, since the letter 'was not sent through the normal channels—through the embassies—and included petitions that go against the Spanish and European legal frameworks'. He announced that he has given 'very precise instructions' to the Spanish foreign services about what is going on and said he 'will do whatever he can' to 'defend the unity of Spain'.

Independence's 'harmful and lethal consequences'

Margallo said that 'just like any Spaniard who defends the unity of Spain', he is part of the 'information campaign' launched by the Spanish Government 'to warn Catalans' about 'the harmful and lethal consequences for Catalonia' that independence might bring. According to him, 'this is not a threat', but 'a comprehensive explanation' that abandoning Spain means 'being out of the international system'. 'I doubt there would be many countries outside the EU that would recognize a state that is born from a declaration of independence,' he added. Margallo added that, if such a thing happened, it would mean 'the immediate impoverishment' of Catalonia, which would lose 'between 25% and 30% of its wealth', since it would not have access to the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In addition, it would have to pay custom duties for the exported products and it would have serious difficulties in paying off its debt, he said.

Catalonia’s self-determination harms employment

The Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister regretted that Catalonia’s self-determination process is negatively affecting Spain’s image abroad. This issue 'worries' him because 'a large share of employment' depends on this image through the tools to access liquidity, product sales and tourism. 'All this is harming Spain’s image and the Foreign Service’s duty is the opposite, to improve it,' he said.

Gallardón: 'Spain has the necessary tools to defend […] its national sovereignty'

In addition, Spain's Justice Minister, who has become internationally famous for the new highly restrictive abortion law, insisted that 'Spain has the necessary tools to defend—by strictly following the Constitution and the rights recognized therein—its national sovereignty, which rests in the hands of its citizens as a whole'. The Spanish Constitution states that the Armed Forces is responsible for defending Spain's unity. During an event held in Madrid, with the presence of six former Presidents of the Constitutional Court, Gallardón stated that 'Spain is a great nation that is worth living in and loving, and which is worth fighting for'.

The Justice Minister praises 'the strength' of the Spanish institutions

The Minister highlighted that the Constitutional Court is 'one of the cornerstones that support the architecture of the State'. He added that no threat had ever been successful before: 'none of its presidents has surrendered in front of the numerous challenges that the rule of law has faced along these past years'. According to Gallardón, the 'strength' of the Spanish institutions 'is the best guarantee for Spain’s future'.