‘Not European anymore’ Furious Catalans slam EU for silence over police violence in Spain

        Images of bloodied pensioners and police firing rubber
bullets into peaceful crowds shocked the world today as Catalonia attempted to hold a referendum on
independence from Spain.
The Spanish interior ministry called the referendum
illegal and said it will not recognise the result.
Meanwhile armed police were called to schools to shut
down polling stations and remove voters.
As early reports emerged of more than 300 injured
citizens and more than 10 police officers, Europeans
took to the internet to condemn the silence from the
EU.
      Spain is a member state and the EU has insisted
Madrd deal with the issue internally.
The referendum has thrown Spain into its worst constitutional crisis in decades and will have major implications for the entire nation and potentially the
EU.
Catalan voters dragged by police as EU condemned for
not speaking out
Catalan fear as
Spanish Civil Guard
police smash into
polling station
Catalan referendum:
Police fire grenades
and rubber bullets
Catalonia is a critical contributor to the Spanish
economy and accounts for 20 per cent of the nations
GDP. If it became independent the region would no
longer be part of the EU and could potentially unleash
a major financial crisis across Spain.
But the EU remained tight-lipped for most of
referendum day, with Guy Verhofstadt President of the
Alliance of Liberals&Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in
the European Parliament breaking the silence, amid
fury the bloc should condemn Madrid.
Voters were left livid, asking Jean Claude Juncker -
European Commission President - why he was keeping
quiet.
One man wrote on Twitter: “What has Tusk, Juncker
said? I can't believe the silence from the EU on this.
Disappointment doesn't come close!”
John Michael Murray said: “Prediction - Catalan within
48 hours announces independence. Bigger headache
for the EU than #Brexit.”
Dan Sanderson tweeted: “The EU want a fascist United
states of Europe. viva Catalan.”
Others said they will no longer see themselves as
European.
Scenes at the Catalan
independence referendum
Sun, October 1, 2017
Scenes at the Catalan independence referendum
PLAY
People clash with Spanish Guardia Civil [AFP/Getty
Images]
AFP/GETTY IMAGES 1 of 15
People
clash with
Spanish
Spanish
Guardia
Civil
A
protestor
holds a
Independe
Referendu
Takes
I
Dorothy Bruce wrote: “Difficult not to attack EU when
see Catalan scenes of police violence and hear no
word of condemnation from Brussels. Spain is member
of EU.”
Another said: “Do not call me neither spanish nor
european any more ... I M CATALAN !!!”
David Shelton said: "As Rajoy doesn't respect the
Catalan Language or culture it's time EU told Rajoy
he's behaving like NicolasMiduro &tell him hold
Referendum!
Politician Miquel Buch led the charge, calling for the
EU to condemn the violence.
He said: “If Europe does not say anything about the
violence we are living, I DO NOT want to be
European.”
The Spanish Government has called for voters in the
region to go home, but the streets are heaving with
peaceful sit-ins.
Earlier today police fired rubber bullets at protestors.
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit
envoy, released a statement at 5.30pm BST.
He said: “I don't want to interfere in the domestic
issues of Spain but I absolutely condemn what
happened today in Catalonia.
“On one hand, the separatist parties went forward with
a so-called referendum that was forbidden by the
Constitutional Court, knowing all too well that only a
minority would participate as 60 % of the Catalans are
against separation.
“And on the other hand - even when based on court
decisions - the use of disproportionate violence to stop
this.
“In the European Union we try to find solutions through
political dialogue and with respect for the
constitutional order as enshrined in the Treaties,
especially in art. 4.
“It's high time for de-escalation. Only a negotiated
solution in which all political parties, including the
opposition in the Catalan Parliament, are involved and
with respect for the Constitutional and legal order of
the country, is the way forward.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the European
Commission for comment.

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