Spain finds no peace after the verdicts against several Catalan separatist leaders. Once again thousands of pro-independence activists took to the streets. They demonstrated against a visit by the Spanish King Felipe VI. in Catalonia's capital.
Attendees protested Monday against a King award ceremony in a convention center backed by a large police force. Protesters showed posters with inscriptions like "Death to the Bourbon", "Barcelona becomes the nightmare of Felipe VI." or "no king, no fear".
It was the first visit of the king to Catalonia since the sentencing of nine leaders of the independence movement to high prison sentences by the Supreme Court in mid-October. The verdict led to sometimes violent protests and rallies in the northeastern region of Spain.
Independence supporters cast Felipe VI. its attitude after a referendum was held on 1 October 2017 against the will of Madrid and for a short time even the independence of Catalonia had been proclaimed. The king urged his time to "ensure the constitutional order."
The independence referendum had actually banned the Constitutional Court. The regional government in Barcelona nevertheless carried out the vote and then decided independence. All this triggered a serious political crisis in Spain and worldwide attention.
