Despite Craven Cowardice of Puigdemont, Catalonia Remains Powder Keg Ready to Explode

In general, Puigdemont is definitely not alone. By the way, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, is there to oppose him. He presides over a shaky minority government. He let the Catalan crisis advance, embittered his own people. If Spain manages to escape all this, it will be painful. Or, well, maybe Rajoy will have enough strength to defeat Puigdemont. His adversary is not that tough. From Catalonia, the head of our European Bureau, Mikhail Antonov.

A river of people floods the streets. Catalan flags over the umbrellas, but it's not Barcelona. Disturbing news for the Spanish government — it's Bilbao, one of the major cities of the Basque Country, another autonomy within the Spain.

The fact, that the most troublesome people of the kingdom or, at least, its numerous representatives broke their neutrality and rallied to defend Catalonia against the 155th article of the Spanish Constitution, could be the first sign of yet another awakening of the local separatists. In the second half of the 20th century, they spilled a lot of blood, both their and their enemies', fighting for independence.

Now, pressing Catalonia, Madrid has to keep an eye on the Basques. Twice unpleasant is the timing — the central government seemed to have seized the initiative in Catalonia.

When the Catalan ministers and deputies were boarding the train that would have transported them into the unaffectionate arms of the Spanish justice system, many should have gotten a premonition that these people are boarding something far more important. Anti-constitutional mutiny and embezzlement, serious charges with serious sentences — up to 30 years in prison, all this for the sake of questioning and parting.

Barcelona saw them off with hugs and tears, Madrid welcomed them with people shouting: "Traitors, get out!" They'd be happy to, but the black minibuses, so typical for this situation, take them into the night where they'll spend in a hotel guarded by the police.

"Rajoy is the new Franco" shouted people in front of the Generalitat that was decimated by the 155th article of the Spanish Constitution.

Silvia Panades: "Catalonia has its own history and culture that has always been ignored by Spain. The moment has come when people want to know if they are numerous enough for Catalonia to become an independent state. Political arrests and violence were their answer".

Fransesc Colette: "Spain is not a democracy because no European democracy can have political prisoners. People get thrown behind bars just because they want to express their opinions. Shame!"

At that moment, the Catalan officials were entering the Supreme Court of Spain one by one. Each of them filed a request to move the questioning to November 9, claiming they weren't ready yet. The Court agreed, even though later it agreed with the prosecution office as well. And Catalan independence supporters who are now welcoming the train found many of their heroes missing.

15 went and 6 returned. These are the deputies of the Catalan parliament, the ministers still remain in Madrid. The prosecution office insists on pre-trial detention without bail. The authorities are worried that these people might escape to Belgium to join Puigdemont.

Carles Puigdemont, the leader of the self-proclaimed republic flew to Belgium from the airport in Marseilles, without saying goodbye. On Monday it emerged that he and five members of his government are already there. And most of them have no intention to join the interrogation in Madrid. Only Forn, the Minister of Internal Affairs will return. Now he, together with Junqueras, the former Vice President of the Generalitat, and his other colleagues, is sitting in Estremera Prison in Madrid, while Puigdemont calls for peace from Brussels.

Carles Puigdemont, former President of Catalonia: "During this sensitive period we decided not to provoke the further social conflict. Had we stayed, the violence of October 1 would have happened again. I can't set up my own people. How long I will remain in Brussels depends on the circumstances".

Puigemont's political immigration probably won't last. Madrid issued an international arrest warrant and handed it over to the Belgian authorities that are definitely not happy about the "Catalan refugees". Puigdemont himself is going to participate in the autonomy's early elections, which Madrid appointed on December 21st.

Besides, it's clear that during the pre-election stage, the idea of an independent Catalan Republic is currently at the stage of an emotional burnout in the minds of moderate people. Catalonia doesn't need leaders — it has plenty of those, it needs martyrs.

At the beginning of the week, it seemed that the protest against the dissolution of the Catalan government died unborn. But the arrests of the officials in the middle of the week kindled the fire of separatism.

"We are made to testify for the crimes we have not committed. We decided to show our faces, to testify".

In Rubio, Joan Llobet coordinates the work of the National Assembly, one of the most radical Catalan organizations. A yellow ribbon is pinned to his chest to support Jordi Sanchez, the leader of the movement that has been imprisoned for three weeks. The main impression after talking with Joan — prison won't stop him either.

Joan Llobet, Rubio's National Assembly: "We have 2 months until the elections on December 21st. But we should never forget that these elections were the result of the coup organized here by the Spanish authorities. They hate the people of Catalonia. They have always hated us and viewed us as slaves".

The major unionist parties, the People's Party and the Socialists, will have to confront such a radical point of view. The separatists have a habit of going to the elections and their own electoral legislation, comparable to the American one.

Four Catalan provinces have seats in the Parliament. One deputy from Barcelona, that's a bit more pro-Madrid, represents almost 65,000 voters, while the republican Girona gets only 43,500. Separatists can get the majority in parliament even if they received less votes during the elections.

There's no time to change the law. Unionists have a single hope — the supporters of a united Spain getting fed up with all of this.

Alberto Fernandez Diaz, People's Party: "Catalans that feel that they're Spanish for many years have believed that the Spanish government will protect them from separatism. Something is changing in Catalonia. It's not just about the central government stopping separatists and made them to abide by the law but the Catalans themselves started saying 'enough'".

David Perez, Socialist Party: "We can't go on like this, our economy has hit rock bottom, companies are leaving, families are falling apart. The current situation is definitely driving our very important majority to despair that doesn't understand what's going on. This despair can become a peaceful protest but can also end up being pretty violent".

A dream for some, madness for the other. A republic for some, a kingdom for others. And Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, by the way, the acting coordinator of Catalonia, the Spanish Deputy PM, de Santamaria, hasn't yet come to Barcelona, is incapable of resolving the conflict. So are the arrests. The Catalans will continue their rallies. Today, a million in favor. Tomorrow, a million against.

The scale of events is normal now, no one is surprised. But someday, perhaps after the elections, whose outcome is bound to upset someone, these millions might clash. Even if Catalonia is quiet now, it's the quietness of a powder keg. Mikhail Antonov, Alexandr Korystilev, Andrey Putra Vesti News of the Week, Barcelona.