Spanish king decries 'disloyalty' in Catalonian poll

By Alyssa McMurtry

BARCELONA

In an emergency address to the nation Tuesday night, Spanish King Felipe VI harshly condemned the Catalan government for breaking the law and came out in clear support of Spanish unity.

“With their decisions, they have systematically violated the law, showing inadmissible disloyalty to the powers of the state,” said the king in a televised address, in the midst of Spain’s most dramatic political crisis in decades.

The address comes on the heels of Sunday’s Catalan independence referendum, which violated the Spanish Constitution and was marked by police aggression against peaceful demonstrators who were trying to vote.

Tuesday also saw a general strike in Catalonia, while Spain and Catalonia wait to see whether the Catalan government will make a unilateral declaration of independence in the coming days.

Felipe said Spain is in an “extremely serious situation” and that “with the [Catalan] government’s irresponsible conduct it can even put the social and economic stability at risk in Catalonia and in all of Spain.”

The 49-year-old monarch called for a return to the constitutional order, telling Catalans that Spain is a democratic nation and that problems must be solved through law and democracy.

“These authorities have underestimated the solidarity that has united Spain,” he said, and concluded his speech by stressing his “firm commitment to the unity and permanence of Spain.”

By Alyssa McMurtry

BARCELONA

In an emergency address to the nation Tuesday night, Spanish King Felipe VI harshly condemned the Catalan government for breaking the law and came out in clear support of Spanish unity.

Tuesday also saw a general strike in Catalonia, while Spain and Catalonia wait to see whether the Catalan government will make a unilateral declaration of independence in the coming days.

The 49-year-old monarch called for a return to the constitutional order, telling Catalans that Spain is a democratic nation and that problems must be solved through law and democracy.

“These authorities have underestimated the solidarity that has united Spain,” he said, and concluded his speech by stressing his “firm commitment to the unity and permanence of Spain.”