Catalan Government describes Vox rallies as "provocation" and accuses them of endangering demonstrators
Budó guarantees that the police will act when "there are acts of violence".
BarcelonaThe Govern holds Vox responsible for the disturbances that have happened this past week in their political events in Catalonia. The spokeswoman of the executive, Meritxell Budó, has affirmed this Tuesday that far right rallies "turn from political events into provocations" in which the requests of the police are listened to. According to her, the followers of Vox are those who "are putting at risk not only their safety but also that of the demonstrators and the security forces". In several Catalan towns there have been tense episodes with the throwing of objects by anti-fascist demonstrators and even some aggressions. Several police officers have been injured.
The Generalitat will continue to ensure that Vox can exercise their right to political participation and, therefore, to continue organising rallies for the elections of 14-F, but Budó has remarked that it will also guarantee the right to demonstrate of the groups that oppose the far right. To avoid conflicts, the spokeswoman of the executive has asked the far-right party to act "responsibly".
Vox's rally in Vic's Plaça Major last Sunday was one of the most tense with clashes between anti-fascist demonstrators and police units which protected the far-right politicians, especially when the Vox candidates had already left. The president of the party, Santiago Abascal, reproached some agents for not having acted before. The Catalan Minister of Home Affairs, Miquel Sàmper, already rejected this past Monday the criticisms from Vox and of the rest of parties "that hinder the police task" and also criticised protestors' attitude.
Schools "safe" but without a call for participation
The pandemic situation threatens to make abstention in the Feb 14 elections soar. The Govern guarantees that the polling stations will be "safe" and, therefore, encourages "nobody to stop going to vote for fear that the elections will not be safe". However, unlike what is usual, the Generalitat has not called on citizens to participate. "We are in a pandemic and it is normal that there are misgivings at the time of going to vote", Budó explained.