Live News From Spain As It Happens

CATALUNYA National Assembly (ANC) leader Jordi Sànchez's prison cellmate has asked to move as he is 'fed up' with the campaigner 'banging on about independence'.

Sànchez, who, along with Òmnium Cultural leader Jordi Cuixart, was arrested for inflaming a protest and 'blocking the Guardia Civil' during a raid on Catalunya's regional Parliament, is being held at Madrid's Soto del Real jail – the same one where former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas spent 19 months during investigations into his multi-million slush fund.

The ANC leader was assigned a 'buddy' once remanded in custody – a prisoner with a record for good behaviour who is placed in a cell with new arrivals to keep them on an even keel.

But Sànchez's companion said he 'couldn't take it any more' and has asked to be moved – a request which has been accepted.

He said the separatist's 'constant banging on about independence' made him feel as though he was 'serving a double sentence', and he considers that being in prison is quite enough punishment for his offences.

Sànchez has already asked to be moved from his current prison block after an inmate shouted to him, “¡Viva España!”

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

SPAIN'S economy continues to grow at above the forecast 3% and its GDP is rising – despite the unsettled political situation in Catalunya, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The year-on-year growth in the economy has remained at 3.1%, based upon figures for the third quarter of 2017 – and although the disputed referendum had not taken place by then, the data included are right up to the day before it was held, when State and police intervention was well under way and Catalunya had approved its regional law on independence.

This shows the separatist move has not as yet affected Spain's growth, although the full impact of the referendum and Catalunya's powers being withdrawn through Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution will not be known until the end of December, when the fourth-quarter results are released.

Also during the third quarter (Q3), Spain's GDP grew by 0.8% - less than the 0.9% in the second quarter (Q2), possibly due to Catalunya's current issues, but still showing a 16^th consecutive month of increases.

The economy is now showing 10 straight quarters of growth exceeding 3% and 15 consecutive months of overall growth, according to the INE, whose figures match those of the Bank of Spain (pictured) and the ministry for the economy.

And despite Catalunya, the Bank of Spain continues to forecast 'high-level' growth in the economy in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017.

The reduced Q3 rise in the GDP has been attributed to a slowdown in job creation and fluctuation net trade income, in contrast to healthy development in both in the spring.

Overall, the Bank of Spain predicts the GDP will have grown by 3.1% over the course of 2017, which mirrors the government's own forecasts.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

AN ESTIMATED 1.1 million people have hit the streets of Barcelona today (Sunday) to protest against the now-ex Catalunya regional government's unilateral declaration of independence.

This is the second demonstration in a matter of weeks organised by the Catalunya Civil Society (Societat Civil Catalana, or SCC) calling for Spain's unity to be protected – the previous protest took place in Barcelona on October 8, a week after the disputed independence referendum.

In practice, the declaration, or UDI, means nothing, since not one country or international organisation has as yet stated it would recognise Catalunya as a separate country, and within 30 minutes of the secession announcement, Spain's national government triggered Article 155 of the Constitution, placing the region under State rule.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

A BELGIAN minister in favour of Flemish independence has tentatively offered Catalunya's regional president Carles Puigdemont political asylum.

Theo Francken, head of immigration in the northern European country – the only one of the 28 allowed to grant asylum to other EU members – said it would 'theoretically be possible' for this protection to be extended to the now-ex leader of Spain's north-eastern region 'if he does not get a fair trial' in the event of his possible arrest.

As yet, no move has been made in Spain to impose criminal charges against Puigdemont, although the State prosecution service has discussed it and his proceeding with the independence referendum and subsequently declaring a 'Republic of Catalunya' are offences against the national Constitution.

Also, if he continues to try to carry out his functions as regional president despite having been sacked by the State, Puigdemont could be charged with usurping a public role.

“They're already talking about a prison sentence [for Puigdemont], and it remains to be seen how fair any trial against him would be,” said Francken.

If he wanted to 'escape', the Belgian nationalist added, offering him political asylum in Belgium is 'not something unreal, when you look at it properly'.

“Clearly, this would put us in a difficult situation, diplomatically, with the Spanish government, but it is indeed possible, by law, to request asylum in Belgium – and a request of this nature, like any applications for asylum, would be reviewed objectively, properly and independently, just as the people of Spain would expect.”

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel governs in coalition with Francken's Neo-Flemish Alliance, whose main aim is the peaceful secession of Flanders from the mother country.

Michel has already implied he is 'not entirely in agreement' with Spain's actions in the face of Catalunya's disputed referendum – that of involving the police to stop it taking place, seizing paperwork, posters, voting slips and ballot boxes, then applying Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, stripping Catalunya of its autonomous governing powers.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

Barely half an hour after Catalunya's regional Parliament voted to declare independence, the Senate at national government level has given its mandate for president Mariano Rajoy to trigger Article 155 of the Constitution.

Described by the BBC as 'Spain's nuclear option', Article 155 – which strips powers from a 'rebellious and disobedient' regional government and places it under State rule – has never been used in the 39-year history of the country's Magna Carta.

Triggered at 16.09 today (Friday, October 27), this unprecedented move – modelled on Germany's Federal system – effectively means Catalunya's government is de facto dismissed, including its president, Carles Puigdemont and deputy president, Oriol Junqueras.

But this has not been officially announced, and the Senate's approval is not necessarily irreversible – if a dramatic about-turn occurs in Catalunya, the State may consider going back on Article 155.

The reigning right-wing PP government holds a majority in the Senate – although it is in minority in Parliament – meaning the vote to invoke Article 155 was practical a certainty, but other parties in direct opposition to the PP have backed the move.

All the socialists (PSOE) voted in favour, except its sole member on Catalunya's regional branch, the PSC, who left the room during the voting.

Ciudadanos and various minority regional parties, including the Canarian Coalition, backed the proposal.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

CATALUNYA regional president Carles Puigdemont is considering calling an election now to try to stop Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution being triggered, which would place the north-eastern territory under State rule.

But Spanish president Mariano Rajoy has said even a regional election will not stop him activating Article 155.

Rajoy says this action is 'the only possible solution' to 're-establish legality' in Catalunya.

His main opposition, the PSOE, says it would be 'wrong' to apply Article 155 if Catalunya called an election – especially if Puigdemont does not make a unilateral declaration of independence.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

A 'SMART Band' which tells people where to buy a house based upon how they feel when they visit different areas and properties has been designed by the University of Zaragoza and the Gandia campus of Valencia Polytechnic.

Information about the wearer's wellbeing is picked up by sensors, which connect to his or her SmartPhone and contrast with data obtained from the estate agency.

Scores from all users are then sent to property companies so they can work out which are the most sought-after neighbourhoods in their area.

Once the wearer's cardiac frequency variability (CFV) is measured, no other information needs to be introduced manually, and they will then receive recommendations directly to their mobile as to where they should look when seeking a home to ensure they will be happy living there.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

A SPANISH tourist has been shot dead by a police officer whilst touring one of the most notorious favelas in the former Brazilian capital of Rio de Janeiro.

María Esperanza Ruiz Jiménez, 67, from El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz province) was in a Fiat Freemont in the Largo do Boiadeiro neighbourhood, a busy shopping district at the foot of the Rocinha slum, or favela, at around 10.30 local time (14.30 mainland Spain time) when the driver allegedly failed to stop as ordered by the armed police who are permanently on duty in the deprived outskirts of the city.

The driver, an Italian who had lived in Rio for four years, said he did not remember any order to stop, nor jumping a police checkpoint.

Police did not realise the car was carrying holidaymakers on a 'favela tour' – which are growing in popularity in Brazil's largest cities – until it had passed.

According to the driver, he heard shots and accelerated to get away from them, then realised that one of the Spaniards in the car had a bullet wound in her neck.

María Esperanza was travelling with her brother and his wife, who are waiting at the Miguel Couto Hospital in the south of the city for her body to be released.

CCTV footage released by the Brazilian newspaper Globo shows the car being driven down the street in Rocinha, the sound of gunfire, and several police officers running towards the vehicle.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

ADOPTION processes in Spain are so slow that many would-be parents wait years for a child, and some have given up trying, says inter-regional federation FIDECAI.

The problem, which tends to be bureaucratic, largely involves international adoptions due to a lack of bilateral agreements between Spain and other countries. Spain's lack of progress leads to the other nations backing out, complains Susana Morales of the international adoption society Familias de Colores. “There are some 45 countries outside the EU with whom Spain shares adoption legislation,” she says, “so it doesn't make sense.”

Families hoping to adopt overseas sign a contract with an ECAI, or International Adoption Cooperation Agency, then join a waiting list of up to three years on average, but often as much as six years. The contract states how much the parents have to pay to cover the notary's, translator's and interpreter's fees and other costs; typically around €12,000 until recently but now at least €20,000, depending upon the country. This does not include travel or accommodation expenses for the parents, and in some nations, such as the Dominican Republic, they are required to stay there for up to four months; impossible where one or both parents work.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

CATALUNYA regional president Carles Puigdemont is considering speaking in the Senate on Friday when its members vote on whether to trigger Article 155 of the Constitution, which would place the north-eastern territory under State rule.

With the reigning right-wing PP in a majority in the Senate, the vote is likely to be no more than a formality and would effectively – although not officially – see the end of Catalunya's autonomy, the first of Spain's 17 regions ever to lose its devolved powers.

Puigdemont has been called to appeal in the Senate this Thursday, the day before the vote, but will not be allowed to be present when it takes place.

He has not taken a decision on his possible appearance as yet.

Pro-secessionists in Catalunya believe the best response to the activating of Article 155 is to make a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).

Spanish government opposition party, the PSOE, says the only way Article 155 can be avoided is if Puigdemont scraps the whole idea of independence, or with a fresh regional election.

As a result, Barcelona's mayoress – who is against independence but in favour of the people being allowed to vote in a legal, non-binding referendum – is considering breaking away from the PSOE, with whom she governs in coalition.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

THREE of Spain's restaurants have made it into TripAdvisor's top 25 in the world – and one of them is in the top five, according to the list released last night (Wednesday).

Based upon ratings, recommendations and votes from tourists and local customers, the travel information site ranks eateries across the planet every year, and Spain usually has at least two somewhere near the top.

This time, the number one spot has gone to The Black Swan in Oldstead, UK – a country which also takes number two with the French-style Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, in Great Milton.

'Real' French cuisine comes in third and fourth, with Maison Lameloise in Chagny and L'Auberge de l'Îlle respectively.

At number five, and ranked the best restaurant in Spain, is the eponymous eatery owned by Basque masterchef Martín Berasategui (first picture), based in Lasarte.

As well as being a work of delicate fine art on a plate, a meal at Berasategui's restaurant provides, according to one of the top reviews, 'the best combinations of flavours ever experienced'.

“The meal was culinary poetry,” the recommendation states.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

BRITISH prime minister Theresa May says the UK 'would not recogise' a declaration of independence on the part of Catalunya.

In a conversation with her Spanish counterpart, Mariano Rajoy this week, the Conservative leader stressed that the referendum 'had no legal basis' and that 'any unilateral declaration of independence would be inconsistent with legality'.

“Great Britain would not recognise Catalunya as an independent nation,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Mrs May has her own professional interest in not supporting any secession bid by Spain's north-eastern region, given that Scotland has already held a referendum on independence and has threatened to stage another now that its main reason for voting to remain in the UK in the initial poll was the knowledge that it would cease to be a member of the European Union.

This week, Mrs May has been discussing her Brexit plans with French president Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and according to Downing Street, also talked about these negotiations with Rajoy.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

A BASQUE political party is urging the region's residents to join the 'Support Catalunya' campaign by writing to European heads of State.

Eusko Alkartasuna says the campaign, set up by the Catalunya National Assembly – whose leader Jordi Sànchez has, controversially, been remanded in custody without bail – and the Alianza Libre Europea, aims to get the other 27 EU member States to push Spanish president Mariano Rajoy into accepting 'international arbitration' over the situation in Catalunya.

“The political scenario in Catalunya not only affects the development of the right to decide, but also hits at the roots of democracy in the State of Spain and in the EU,” says Eusko Alkartasuna.

“Given the response that Basque society has given to the attacks against the people of Catalunya, its institutions and representatives, we are urging residents to get involved in the campaign aimed at making top political leaders in the EU fully aware of the reality in Catalunya.”

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

GALICIA'S multiple infernos have jumped over the eastern border into the region of Asturias, and of the 35 forest fires burning there yesterday (Monday) morning, 27 continue to be active.

Emergency workers in the Principality of Asturias have managed to extinguish eight wildfires so far, and have reduced from seven to three the number of 'priority' sites.

The most urgent in Asturias now are the blazes in the Fondos de Vega area of Degaña, the Seroiro area of Ibias – both of which are close to the Muniellos Biosphere Reserve – and in the Corondeño area of Allande.

Improvements in the situation mean over 50 residents evacuated in the early hours of Monday in Larón, La Viliella and Gillón in the Cangas del Narcea district have been able to return to their homes, and the AS-15 regional highway has reopened.

The regional government has declared a pre-emergency for air pollution in the city of Gijón, and schools have been out since yesterday, although expected to return today (Tuesday).

Read motre at thinkSpain.com

CATALUNYA regional president Carles Puigdemont has ignored the central government's ultimatum and has not clarified whether or not his speech following the banned referendum was, in fact, a declaration of independence.

President of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, said Puigdemont had until Monday this week to say whether or not independence had been declared and, if this was the case, until this coming Thursday to retract his statement.

If neither happens, by Friday this week, the State will invoke Article 155 of the Constitution and withdraw all powers from Catalunya's autonomous government, placing it under national rule.

Article 155 has never been triggered before in this history of the Constitution, which was signed in December 1978.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

SPANISH president Mariano Rajoy has confirmed that the devastating infernos currently destroying Galicia were started deliberately.

They were ignited in at least 200 places and, although some are under control, between 30 and 80 fires have been burning at any one time since Wednesday, with 14 of them posing an extreme danger to the population.

Some have joined up with the northern end of Portugal's 300 fires and have even jumped the river Miño for the first time in known history, the water course that separates Galicia from the neighbouring country to the south.

Four people have died – two women, thought to be pensioners, trapped on the road in their van by flames in Nigrán (Pontevedra province) as they tried to drive away from the danger area, plus two men on separate occasions attempting to put out flames near their property.

Rajoy has given instructions to the Guardia Civil and National Police to 'multiply their efforts' to catch the culprits, saying: “This is no coincidence.”

Regional president of Galicia, also on the PP – like Rajoy – Alberto Núñez Feijoo, has come under fire from residents for having slashed forestry brigadiers' jobs recently, meaning resources are more scarce than usual.

But Feijoo insists the emergency response team is up to the job.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

HOME sales and purchases went up by 16% in August based upon the previous year's figures, following four months of consecutive decline, according to Spain's National Institute of Statistics (INE).

That month, 82.1% of the total of 41,282 residential properties which changed owners were second-hand, with the rest being new builds.

Over the course of 2017, from January to August inclusive, property buying and selling rose by 14%, largely helped by bumper sales in the last of these eight months which saw a hike of 6% on July.

August 2017's year-on-year rise was not quite as buoyant as that of July – where the difference in sales compared with the same month in 2016 was 16.8% - but was still the third-best result since February 2011, with more homes shifted than ever and only beaten in number by May and June 2011 when each month saw over 44,000 properties shift hands.

Second-hand home sales in August represented a rise of 14.9% year-on-year, whilst new-build sales increased by 21.3%, totalling 7,396.

The highest number of homes purchased was seen in the Valencia region, with 163 bought per 100,000 inhabitants, and followed closely by the Balearic Islands' 152 and Andalucía's 125.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

HURRICANE Ophelia will bring gale-force winds and choppy seas to Spain's far north-western region of Galicia in the early hours of this Monday morning.

The tropical storm reached the Portuguese islands of the Azores at 23.00 on Wednesday and began to drift north-east, but will bypass the Canary Islands by several hundred kilometres.

It will remain some distance from mainland Galicia, around 500 kilometres away, but enough to cause high winds and tidal surges in the region somewhere between late Sunday night and early Monday morning, says the regional meteorological agency, MeteoGalicia.

By 18.00 on Monday, Hurricane Ophelia will have left Spain, skirting France by a very wide margin and cross the Republic of Ireland, settling over Northern Ireland and gradually heading across Scotland and the far north-west of England.

It will then burn itself out before reaching Scandinavia.

According to MeteoGalicia spokeswoman María Souto, gale-force winds are a worst-case scenario, but at the very least Hurricane Ophelia will cause temperatures to drop sharply over Sunday night and Monday morning in the region – except in the east of the provinces of Lugo and Ourense – after an unseasonably warm weekend forecast for Spain as a whole with the mercury soaring to around 30ºC.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

A EUROPEAN directive on animal protection will finally enter Spanish law and come into force in February – 30 years after it was passed.

Among other requisites, the new law will ban docking or removing tails, cutting ears and de-clawing unless they are for purely medical reasons, meaning these practices for aesthetic means, to stop cats ruining furniture or to make hunting hounds more aggressive by slicing their ears off will now be outlawed.

Anyone who attempts to carry out any of these operations on their domestic animals will be refused by the vet.

The law was due to go live in Spain 10 years ago, but the right-wing PP – then in opposition – blocked it by pushing for an amendment allowing de-clawing, tail-removal and ear-cutting to still be allowed.

This amendment was instantly rejected by the then socialist (PSOE) government, and the impasse was never resolved.

Now with the reigning PP government in a minority, it has been overruled on the 'cosmetic surgery' aspect.

In fact, other than sterilisation, no other surgery may be carried out on domestic animals except for therapeutic means.

The law, which will come into force in Spain on February 1, 2018 – having been approved in Strasbourg on November 13, 1987 – will also require authorities to actively promote dogs and cats being sterilised, a practice that remains shrouded in urban myth in Spain.

Many pet-owners still believe neutering or spaying their cats and dogs makes them 'fat and lazy', although medically, there is no evidence that doing so makes any difference to animals' body weight or behaviour; in fact, those who sterilise their pets in an attempt to calm them down are usually disappointed.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

CATALUNYA president Carles Puigdemont has just four days left to clarify to the Spanish government whether or not his 'simulation of independence' but with 'delayed effects' speech means he has unilaterally declared the region's secession.

National president Mariano Rajoy criticised Puigdemont for 'causing confusion' for the people of Spain and Catalunya by his somewhat cryptic discourse.

The uncertainty created means businesses are opting to shift their head offices out of the region and to other parts of Spain as a precaution, with well over 30 corporate giants having already moved and more planning on doing so.

Rajoy says if Puigdemont has, in fact, declared independence, and clarifies that this is the case, he will then have three days to withdraw his declaration.

If he does not do so, Spain will invoke Article 155 of the national Constitution, which means withdrawing all self-governing powers from the region and putting under the direct rule of the national government, including finances, law, public services and the justice system.

Opposition members in Spain's government have urged Rajoy not to trigger Article 155, but instead to agree to talks and to amend the Constitution.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

Spanish president Mariano Rajoy, however, says he is only willing to enter talks with Puigdemont 'within the law', meaning that 'under no circumstances will the division of Spain be up for debate'.

Dialogue is 'not possible' where it is 'between legality and disobedience', and 'the diagnosis does not allow for too many discrepancies'.

“The governors of Catalunya have perpetrated a disloyal and very dangerous attack on the Spanish Constitution, their own regional Statute, the unity of Spain and peaceful coexistence,” Rajoy said in Parliament.

“In light of this, the government of Spain has given a full, legal and proportionate response, and has initiated the triggering of Article 155.

“We intend to continue to fulfil our duty to defend national law and the unity of the country, whilst seeking to return to concordance and social peace.

“It's time to put an end to this nonsense in a prudent manner and with the ultimate aim of returning to peaceful coexistence.”

Rajoy says he is 'prepared to talk' about public services, financing, self-governing, accountability and 'even the Constitution', but will not support any kind of referendum or independence.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

CATALUNYA regional president Carles Puigdemont said in an interview with CNN today (Wednesday) that he is willing to open talks with Spain's leader Mariano Rajoy as long as there are 'no prior conditions' laid down.

Puigdemont, who may or may not have unilaterally declared independence last night – pro-secession politicians in Catalunya and the national government have both asked him for clarification – says two members of both the catalán government and that of Spain should jointly decide upon and appoint an arbitrator to be present when Puigdemont himself and Rajoy start talking.

The regional president says this 'responds in time and in format' to the procedures laid down by the Spanish Constitution as a precursor to invoking Article 155, which would allow Spain to withdraw Catalunya's autonomous governing rights, taking over its laws, finances, public services and administration.

“We're at a point where the most important thing is that there should be no prior conditions to sitting down and talking; just accepting that we have to talk in the right conditions,” Puigdemont said in an interview with the US-based TV company.

“The relationship between Spain and Catalunya is just not working, so we need to bring our positions together.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

BEST-SELLING historical fiction writer Ken Follett told reporters in Madrid this week that he is 'not bothered about a Nobel Literature Prize' and is 'quite happy with his Maserati and champagne', and reveals that his latest epic is partly set in the southern Spanish city of Sevilla.

During the Welsh author's presentation at Madrid's Ritz Hotel of A Column of Fire – his 31^st novel and the third set in the fictitious Mediaeval city of Kingsbridge, a series started with his massive hit Pillars of the Earth – he was inevitably asked what he thought of the situation in Catalunya, given that last Sunday's extreme police action and the subsequent protests have been broadcast all over the world.

“I have to say two things,” stated Follett, 68.

“Firstly, it's very hard to tell people they can't vote, even if that's the right thing to do. Even if the voting is illegal – even if all that's true – those who send in the police to stop people voting are always going to be seen as the villain of the piece. I'm not saying that's the case, but that's what it will look like. We're talking about a public relations error.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

A MASSIVE protest against Catalunya independence took over Barcelona last night (Sunday) and was said to be the biggest in the city's history.

Around a million people – the equivalent of two-thirds of Barcelona's population – filled the Vía Laietana en route to the Avenida Marqués de Argentera from the Plaza Urquinaona, and was joined by high-ranking members of the right-wing PP, the left-wing socialists (PSOE) and centre-right Ciudadanos at all levels from city council to regional government.

Despite its sheer size, the demonstration was peaceful – at least, in terms of no trouble occurring, if not in volume – and took on a carnival atmosphere with music and dance.

Reports claim Peruvian Nobel Literature Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa – now resident in Spain ahead of his imminent marriage to socialite and model Isabel Preysler, ex-wife of Julio Iglesias – was near the front of the throng.

A gigantic banner reading 'Enough already! Let's get sensible again' (¡Basta! Recuperemos la sensatez) was carried at the head of the march, and smaller ones borne by protesters read: 'I'm Spanish', 'Puigdemont in prison', and 'Long live Spain, long live Catalunya and long live the Guardia Civil'.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

BARELY 48 hours after Banco Sabadell announced its intention to move its head office to Alicante, reports claim the Mediolanum Bank also plans to leave Catalunya and set up in Valencia instead.

And CaixaBank is said to be seriously considering following suit.

Two of the biggest brands of cava in Spain – Cordoniu and Freixenet – both say they are concerned about the threat of Catalunya's independence and the latter is already thinking of moving its operations out of the region.

Gas Natural Fenosa has called an extraordinary general meeting this evening to discuss and weigh up whether or not to leave Catalunya.

Telecommunications operator Eurona announced yesterday it would be moving its head office from Barcelona to Rivas-Vaciamadrid (Greater Madrid region), although admits it has been toying with the idea for over a year since it bought out Quantis, Hablaya, Stoneworks and Sultán Telecom, all of which are already based in the capital and now provide up to 80% of Eurona's sales.

But Eurona's decision was partly driven by the 'secession fever' which has been gathering momentum in Catalunya and which already caused 405 companies to leave the region in the first quarter of 2017.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

Spain's Minister for Energy, Tourism and the Digital Agenda, Álvaro Nadal, declared on Thursday that the Catalonian independence movement was "forcing" big businesses to move their company headquarters out of Catalonia because of the "huge uncertainty" in the region, a situation he described as "disastrous" for the country's economic stability.

After speaking at a conference in Valladolid on Spain's digital future, the minister was openly critical of those he believes want to "break up Spain for no logical reason", a move that he believes "threatens to undermine the effort and work put in by two generations".

Nadal (pictured) recalled how Spain arrived to the first two industrial revolutions, meaning that past generations had had to make a "huge effort" to turn Spain into the force it is today, and said that this progress was now "threatened" by "incomprehensible and inconceivable rupturist proposals, just like in bygone centuries".

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

Constitutional Court has suspended next Monday's session of the Catalan regional parliament, in a bid to block Carles Puigdemont's threatened unilateral declaration of independence for the region.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has warned Catalonia's regional government against declaring independence in the wake of last Sunday's illegal vote, and refuses to enter into dialogue with Puigdemont, describing his referendum policy and threats to declare independence as "political blackmail".

The Consitutional Court has rules that any unilateral declaration on the part of the Catalonian regional government would be "a breach of the constitution", and that it would "violate the rights of MPs", thus upholding the challenge brought by the Socialist Party of Catalonia, which opposes a split and has 13 MPs in the 135-seat regional parliament.

An earlier ruling by the court aimed at stopping last Sunday's referendum was ignored by Catalonia's leaders, so this latest ruling may be seen as just a temporary setback.

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

The government of Andalucía has passed a decree giving public sector workers in the region the right to 100% of their salary whilst off work to care for their children if they have cancer or other serious illnesses.

The measure allows for up to a 75% reduction in the working day, depending on the case, with the right to 100% of their salary.

The special permission can initially be requested for a month, with the possibility of extending it to two months or more if there are proven medical reasons to support the request.

The new rule lays out specifically all aspects relating to the permission, defining the exact requirements and the illnesses considered serious enough to warrant the concession of these special arrangements.

Civil servants can request the special leave in the event of their child requiring hospitalisation, when treatment continues at home, and in the case of a relapse. The permission will be granted on the basis of the need for direct, continued and permanent care by the parents or guardians of seriously ill children.
  

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, has voiced his criticism of King Felipe's speech condemning Sunday's independence vote, and reiterated his intention to continue along his chosen path of unilaterally declaring independence for Catalonia.

On Tuesday evening the King appeared on Spanish national television, supporting Rajoy's government's handling of the situation and accusing the Catalan regional government of undermining the country's Constitution and Statute and of behaving in an "irresponsible", "unacceptable" and "disloyal" manner.

In a televised message aired on Wednesday evening, standing alongside the Catalan flag, Puigdemont addressed the King directly, accusing him of mirroring the words and policies of Mariano Rajoy's government, which he described as "catastrophic for Catalonia", and added: "With yesterday's decision you disappointed many people who had previously thought highly of you".

Read more at thinkSPAIN.com

CUSTOMERS of ING bank can use Bankia cashpoints free of charge for withdrawals of €50 or more thanks to a new deal between the two entities.

A commission of 85 cents will be charged by Bankia to ING, but this will not be passed onto the customer.

Until now, ING account-holders were charged commission to use Bankia cashpoints unless they withdrew a minimum of €90.

Those who bank with the Dutch firm can now use – in addition to ING's own cashpoints – those of Banca March, Banco Popular, Banco Pastor and Targobank for withdrawals of any amount, free of charge, plus Bankia ATMs for taking out €50 or more in cash and any other high-street entity for withdrawals of €200 or more.

ING's agreement with Banco Popular for the former's customers to use the latter's cashpoints commission-free remains in place, despite the Popular's having been bought out by Banco Santander.

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A REGION-WIDE strike over the police violence seen on Sunday in an attempt to stop Catalunya's independence referendum has affected everything from football teams through to transport, schools and healthcare.

El Prat airport was said to be running 'as normal' as at 09.45 this morning (Tuesday), and although the regional education authority had given schools permission to strike as they wished, minimum services will continue in infants and primary, and high schools and FE colleges will have 'at least one official' on duty.

Even the Cistercian monks at the Poblet Monastery have joined the strike, but have agreed to let visitors in pre-booked groups continue with their tours, albeit behind locked doors.

Tarragona has stopped its bus service for the day, and the city council – run by the socialists – has complained of picket lines with people hurling stones at buses and covering them with graffiti.

More pickets have blocked the T-11 Reus-Tarragona motorway, even burning tyres on the carriageway.

Major chemical plants are working on 'minimum services only', although a spokesman for petroleum giant Repsol says shift changes 'went ahead as normal'.

Industrial estates, shops, and even farms have shut down for the day, and protests are taking place in the ports of Barcelona, Palamós, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sant Carles de la Ràpita as dock workers have completely downed tools.

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BRUSSELS has responded to the referendum held yesterday (Sunday) in Catalunya, stating it was 'not legal' but condemning the police violence seen in graphic footage of raids on polling stations.

Spokesman for the European Commission Margaritis Schinas said the referendum was an 'in-house issues' which Spain 'needs to resolve in accordance with its Constitution'.

“These are times for unity, not divisiveness,” Sr Schinas stated, calling for both parties – Catalunya and the Spanish government – to open talks.

He said he 'has confidence' in Spanish president Mariano Rajoy to handle this, but that 'violence should never be an instrument of politics'.

Schinas refused to go into detail about his or the Commission's views on the aggressive police actions which have left 893 people injured.

A reporter asked him outright: “What you've read out just now, does it mean the European Commission condemns the violence, or not?”

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A GENERAL strike across Catalunya in protest over the police violence during the 'illegal' referendum will affect everything from rail services to football matches.

Strikes on main railway lines from midnight tonight (Monday) will run until October 13, although minimum services of 25% are obligatory during the rush hours – from 06.30 to 09.30 and 17.00 to 20.00.

Long-distance and high-speed rail links will be less disrupted, with 486 out of 637 trains running, whilst 65% of medium-distance trains will continue as planned.

The airports in Barcelona (El Prat), Reus, Girona (Costa Brava) and Sabadell will be affected from tomorrow, with only 23% of services running in the first of these and 34% in Reus, with the others somewhere in between.

Girona FC has issued a statement confirming it will be joining the strike, and all training at every level, including the junior matches, will be called off whilst the Montilví club office will be shut.

“The club condemns the violent and repressive actions experienced on Sunday in Catalunya and expresses its support and solidarity with the citizens and institutions of the nation,” the note concludes – 'nation' referring to Catalunya.

RCD Espanyol, based in Barcelona, has cancelled the women's match and training match due to take place on Tuesday night, but says it 'scrupulously respects' the 'personal wishes' of workers as to whether or not they wish to join the strike.

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BARCELONA'S Gerard Piqué has not only voted in the Catalunya independence referendum, but posted a photograph of himself casting his ballot on Twitter.

The partner of Colombian pop-rocker Shakira – and father of her two sons, Milan and Sasha – has made no secret of his support of the people of Catalunya being allowed to vote, although it is not clear whether he is pro-independence or simply in favour of the 'right to a voice'.

“Being in favour of independence and being in favour of the referendum are two very different things,” Piqué, 30, said recently in an interview.

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FORECASTS from Spain's met office are correct, it may be raining on Catalunya's parade as determined voters try to cast their ballot tomorrow (Sunday).

Whilst daytime temperatures are expected to remain stable across the country – except in Galicia, the Cantabrian Sea coast and the high Ebro delta, where the mercury will rise – downpours will greet the start of October in Catalunya and the Balearic Islands.

Morning rain in both regions could be torrential locally, albeit lighter during the rest of the day

Catalunya and the Balearics will also experience lower temperatures than in the past week.

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