Gas Natural opts to move legal HQ out of Catalonia over crisis
Catch up on our live blog of events on Friday in the region, which saw the IMF warn of potential consequences of independence challenge, and regional government publish “definitive” results of illegal referendum
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It’s been another fast-moving day of events in Catalonia today, starting first thing this morning with the appearance of the head of the Mossos regional police force, Josep Lluís Trapero, in Spain’s High Court in Madrid over accusations of sedition. The charges relate to the Civil Guard searches of the region’s economy department on September 20, and the actions of the Mossos in dealing with the crowds of protestors that gathered outside the building as the operation took place.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry announced that the extra Civil Guard and National Police officers who have been drafted into Catalonia will be staying there an extra week, until October 18.
After the weekly Cabinet meeting, ministers announced that they had approved a Royal Decree that would make it easier for companies to move their legal headquarters out of Catalonia given the ongoing uncertainty that a potential unilateral declaration of independence is causing. Today alone a number of major firms, including energy giant Gas Natural, announced that they would be taking that step.
The regional premier, Carles Puigdemont, has requested to make an appearance before the Catalan parliament on Tuesday, potentially sidestepping a Constitutional Court ban on a parliamentary session tabled for Monday, given the likelihood of an independence declaration being made.
And late on Friday afternoon, the regional government published the “definitive” results of Sunday’s referendum vote.
Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido's letter to police and civil guards "You are not alone because you are accompanied by that spontaneous applause that someone will give you when they walk by, each Spain flag hung from a balcony represents you, you are moved by that tone of gratitude that you receive or that sincere hug from a stranger. And above all else, because you are backed up by an entire country with a great history behind it, and a wonderful people who want to build an even better future. "
More from the former Catalan premier Artur Mas’s interview with the Financial Times “We have won the right to be an independent country. The question now is how do we exercise that right, and here obviously there are decisions to be taken. And these decisions must have one objective in mind: this is not just about proclaiming independence but about actually becoming an independent country.”
Gas Natural Fenosa has approved a change of corporate address from Barcelona to Madrid. The energy company joins a growing list of businesses making the move ahead of a hypothetical declaration of independence next week, including Banco Sabadell, Oryzon, Dogi International and Eurona. CaixaBank and Freixenet are also considering the step.
Chief of center-right political party Ciudadanos, Albert Rivera, has met with PM Rajoy today in La Moncloa prime ministerial palace to call for Article 155 to be applied. This would see Catalonia’s autonomy suspended. But the PM is still unwilling to take this step, Juan José Mateo and Anabel Díez report.
Rivera is calling for greater leadership from Rajoy, because he considers there to be no time left to stop a declaration of independence.
The IMF has warned of the risks to the economy of the ongoing tensions in Catalonia. “We believe the current perspectives for Spain to be positive. But if they continue, the political tensions in Catalonia could affect confidence in investment and consumer spending,” says the IMF mission chief in Spain, Andrea Schaechter. Antonio Maqueda reports.
Méndez de Vigo's response: “You are talking to me about excesses on one side, and lies about those excesses on the other. The officers were there on a mandate from the judge when those who had the responsibility in the situation, the Mossos, did not do their job. That there were people who suffered because of that, well of course we are sorry about that. The important thing is that there is only one person who has been hospitalized and we are pleased that that is the case.”
Méndez de Vigo: Is the government going to take any immediate measures? “We take measures every day. That’s why we explain the situation in Catalonia every day, which above all else is negatively affecting Catalans. […] Many people in Catalonia think that the first thing that needs to be done is return to legality.”