Catalan Trial
Day six of the trial against the pro-independence leaders in Catalonia saw testimony from Jordi Sànchez, the former leader of the civil association ANC. The involvement of Sànchez in a protest on September 20, 2017 is of key importance to the case, given that accusations of violence during that demonstration are integral to the charge of rebellion that several of the 12 defendants are facing.
During questioning by the prosecution yesterday Sànchez admitted that there had been acts of “violence” in particular the damage caused to several Guardia Civil vehicles. But he rejected claims that they were the result of “a continued assault”.
Power Bills
Households across Europe should brace for higher energy bills this year as governments have had little success in limiting rises in the face of soaring wholesale and environmental costs.
Rising energy prices and plans to hike fuel taxes were a catalyst for the “yellow vest” protests that have swept France since November.
Failure to address the issue could help fuel popular anger and protest votes in European Union parliamentary elections in May or looming national polls.
Since the start of the year, power prices have risen 8 percent in Spain and Italy, while in France regulated electricity tariffs will rise 5.9 percent on June 1, the biggest increase since 2010.
Far Right
THE head of the European Parliament has blocked an event organised by extreme-right and neo-fascist groups in Brussels.
Antonio Tajani decided to pull Monday’s event, called The Future of the True Patriotic Forces in Spain for Unity and Freedom. The extreme-right Democracia Nacional party and the neo-fascist Falange organised the event.
Tajani said he made the decision to ensure security and order were maintained and to protect the “dignity” of the European Parliament.
Democracia Nacional said: “Despite the veto the party will still hold the event in Brussels.
It comes after Tajani blocked an event where former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont was due to appear citing security concerns.
Depopulation Protest
GROUPS campaigning for regions where the population has fallen have said they will stage a protest in Madrid on March 31 to call for government action on the issue.
A total of 14 groups from provinces across Spain are set to demonstrate in Madrid’s Plaza de Colon. The rally has been dubbed the Revolt of Empty Spain.
The groups said they would protest against a lack of investment and what they claimed was the “progressive dismantling” of residents’ basic rights.
It comes as National Institute for Statistics figures showed there were 1,360 towns with less than 101 residents as of January.
Territories Minister Meritxell Batet previously said that depopulation is the “biggest challenge” facing Spain.
Europe Africa Railway
TALKS to build a Morocco-Spain railway line are underway.
An official revealed that Spain and Morocco could complete the necessary research in less than two years.
A joint study showed that a tunnel, which could cost €8 billion, is possible to build.
Funding, some of which is likely to come from the EU, would determine whether the line would be over a bridge or through a tunnel.
Moroccan and Spanish companies are both understood to be working towards the project.