Prepare to defend freedom later this week

«By shattering its own constitution, Spain has put us in the most favourable of positions, from an international standpoint: that of the last resort remedy»

Catalan president calls Parliament meeting to discuss Catalonia’s future

Carles Puigdemont deemed that the activation of Article 155, which will seize Catalonia's self-government, was "the worst attack" on Catalan people and institutions since the Franco dictatorship

Rajoy’s decision to trigger Article 155 might actually backfire on him

A legal analysis by Constitutional Law professor Marcel Mateu: 'The connivance of some will be required before several of these measures can be implemented, so there is no guarantee of that'

The internationalisation of the Catalan case

In a climate of tension Spain stands to lose much more than Catalonia and, apparently, the penny has begun to drop

Amnesty calls for immediate release of arrested pro-independence leaders

Detention and charges of sedition 'constitute excessive restrictions of their rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly,' says Amnesty

Slovenia will recognise independent Catalonia, says deputy leader of Slovenian SD party

Apropos of a VilaWeb news item, Jan Skoberne remarked: 'I strongly believe that we will be among the first to recognise the new Republic'

The enemy’s criminal law in the Finance Ministry

«They are not in a legal limbo: they have already descended to the legal hell being readied by all those Spanish civil servants, a war from within the law, the enemy’s criminal law»

200,000 take to the streets of Barcelona demanding release of pro-independence leaders

Candlelit demonstration in Catalonia's capital and several other marches in the country's main cities

Spain fears Slovenia might recognise an independent Catalonia

Spain’s Foreign Minister voiced his concern to his Slovenian colleague, who replied that Slovenia hasn’t made a decision 'because Catalonia has not made an announcement yet'

A video denounces Spain’s authoritarianism: “Help Catalonia, save Europe”

The video is Òmnium’s response to the arrests of Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez

Cuixart, Sànchez: political prisoners in today’s Europe for holding peaceful rally

Madrid judge denies bail for Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart, the leaders of Catalonia’s two main grassroots groups

Belgian prime minister calls for 'international mediation' if dialogue between Catalonia and Spain fails

Michel asks for dialogue while Paris mayor acknowledges that 'someone' asked her to act as a mediator

Minister Forn: 'Everyone should realise what sort of people are leading the Spanish police'

Interview with the interior minister of Catalonia

Minister Forn: 'Everyone should realise what sort of people are leading the Spanish police. Pérez de los Cobos volunteered to stage the 1981 coup d’état'

Interview with the Catalan Interior Minister

Council of Europe Assembly 'shocked' by police violence against Catalan referendum voters

Members hold debate on the need for a political solution for Catalonia and some suggest international mediation

HRW probe: Spanish police used 'excessive force' on October 1

NGO Human Rights Watch has reviewed footage and photographs of the crackdown on October 1, checking the facts against accounts of witnesses and victims

Spain and Europe are proposing a solution that will solve nothing

«We will meet again in the streets and, once again, reality will prevail over this ridiculous arrangement that Brussels believes it has made with Madrid»

A republic for a minute

“In the coming hours —perhaps days, at most— we will find out whether Europe is prepared to stick its neck out for us or it merely wanted to avoid a declaration of independence at all costs”

President suspends independence declaration to give time for talks

Carles Puigdemont addresses Catalan Parliament but proposes putting off declaring secession to find negotiated solution

Council of Europe calls for an investigation into Spain’s police violence on referendum day

The Commissioner for Human Rights states that Spain’s police use of force was disproportionate and unnecessary

Ruthless Guardia Civil target small villages

On October 1, Spanish police staged mass raids on a good deal of small villages where they knew they would encounter little resistance. Their only goal was to hurt people so that fear would spread among the population

Ruthless Guardia Civil target small villages

On October 1, Spanish police staged mass raids on a good deal of small villages where they knew they would encounter little resistance. Their only goal was to hurt people so that fear would spread among the population

Observers and experts speak out against police violence and in favor of dialogue

Dutch diplomat in Catalonia on October 1: ‘Obama or Koffi Annan could mediate’

The hackers who made possible a universal electoral register for the referendum

VilaWeb interviewed one of the IT experts who created, at breakneck speed, the program allowing voters to dodge Spanish repression

Belgium, Slovenia, Finland, Lithuania, Hungary, Norway, Ireland and the Czech Republic denounce crackdown on Catalonia

A growing number of European governments condemn Mariano Rajoy’s actions in Catalonia

Catalonia demonstrates against Spain’s police violence

People went on strike and took to the streets against the October 1 repression

Independence is a matter of hours now, not weeks

'In every independence process there is a trigger that quickly brings about the end of it all'

October 1 referendum results must be taken into account, says the international delegation

The spokesman of the delegation stated that the referendum has been “a success” despite “difficult circumstances”

Catalan president asks for international mediation backed by the EU

Carles Puigdemont says an investigation will be launched to determine the people responsible for the Spanish police violence on Sunday

Catalonia will declare independence

90% of the 2.26 million Catalans who voted Sunday chose yes

UN’s Human Rights Office decries crackdown on Catalan referendum

A report criticises the breach of fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, association and public participation

The geopolitics of Catalan secession

The Anglo-sphere, Russia, and China are closely watching for any opportunity arising from a Catalonia outside the EU

Brussels correspondents grill Commission over its inaction on Catalonia

They draw a parallel between the Spanish authorities’ actions in Catalonia and the case of Turkey

Trump says that Catalans will oppose Madrid’s referendum ban

“Only speaking for myself, I would like to see Spain continue to be united,” says the US president

The Catalan government starts sending notifications to the October 1 electoral agents

Some notices start arriving despite the major anti-referendum operation by the Spanish Guardia Civil

Spanish embassy in Paris tries to cancel Catalan conference at Sciences Po

The event went ahead anyway but journalists were not allowed to film

Court of Auditors orders Mas to pay €5.2m for November 9 vote

The former Catalan president and ex-ministers given 15 days to deposit money or face freezing of personal assets

TV News: 'Final week before the referendum’

Spanish police block website of pro-independence civil society organization ANC

The privately funded group is behind the massive 'Yes' rallies in Catalonia of the last few years

All Catalan officials arrested over referendum released with charges

The judge charged them with misappropriation of funds, breach of official duty and disobedience