While conceding that the arrests of prominent Catalan leaders on possible charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds had left the independence movement “decapitated”, he said the setback was only temporary. The involvement of the Catalan branches of the Workers’ Commissions and General Workers’ Union was not universally endorsed as some members oppose the region’s secession. “The majority of Catalans, regardless of their political position, agree that pre-trial jail is not justified,” said Camil Ros. Rajoy also called elections in December, a move that backfired after the pro-independence bloc retained its parliamentary majority. An anti-independence rally held in Barcelona last November attracted hundreds of thousands of protesters.

Source: The Guardian April 15, 2018 14:25 UTC