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15/9/2017 Notes de context.

Departament d'Afers i Relacions Institucionals i Exteriors i Transparncia

Departament d'Afers i Relacions Institucionals i Exteriors i


Transparncia

Notes de context

Briefing #3 - 15.09.2017

Brieng#3

This Monday, for the sixth consecutive year, over one million people flooded the streets of
Barcelona on 11th Septmeber -Catalonias national day- to call for a chance to vote on the
political future of Catalonia. In response to this sustained popular demand last week the
Parliament adopted the Law on the Referendum and the Law on Juridical Transition, and
the Decree calling the referendum on 1st October was signed by the Government.

Since the last briefing, preparations have continued in order to ensure that citizens are
able to cast their vote on 1st October.

Decree on Complementary Regulations: As provided for in article 9.2 of the Law on


the Referendum, the Government has adopted this Decree (see attached) which
thoroughly regulates the implementation of the voting and covers key matters such as
the electoral administration (Title II), the electoral roll (Title III), the representation of
political parties and interested organisations (Title IV), the campaign (Title V) or the
voting modalities (Title VII).
Electoral Commission of Catalonia (ECC): The independent and impartial body
responsible for guaranteeing the transparency and objectivity of the voting has been
established and its five members appointed by Parliament. Since its creation last week,
the ECC has been working on issues such as the selection process of those citizens who
will serve as polling point officers, or the accreditation of interested organisations and
international observers.
International electoral observation missions: Thus far, two missions have been
accredited by the ECC. They bring together electoral experts from France, Ireland, New
Zealand, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States, and will soon be joined by
short-term observers that will be deployed throughout Catalonia. As stated in Article 29
of the Decree on Complementary Regulations, the presence of international observers is
welcome as an extra element to ensure that the voting is conducted in accordance with
established international practices and standards.
Ocial Website of the Referendum: The website available in Catalan, Spanish,
Aranese and English provides all the relevant information on all matters regarding the
organisation of and participation in the forthcoming Referendum. The site can be
accessed on ref1oct.cat or www.ref1oct.eu after the Spanish authorities shut down the
original www.referendum.cat.
Catalans abroad: Out of country vote has started, allowing the participation in the
referendum of thousands of registered Catalans with permanent residence abroad.
http://exteriors.gencat.cat/ca/actualitat/notes-de-context/ th 1/19
15/9/2017 Notes de context. Departament d'Afers i Relacions Institucionals i Exteriors i Transparncia

Public engagement: Since 7th September, more than 47,000 volunteers have
registered to act as electoral agents and provide administrative and logistical support in
the organisation of the voting. Likewise, out of the 948 Catalan Mayors, 729 from a
variety of political parties have signed decrees in support of the referendum, and also an
agreement has been reached with Barcelona city council to allow the voting in this city.

On a far less positive note, in the last hours, the Spanish Government has intensified its
actions against the referendum.

In a single day, yesterday, Spanish prosecutors prohibited events in Madrid and


Valencia devoted to the Catalan referendum; ordered an investigation into the
abovementioned 750 mayors as well as their detention should they fail to appear before
authorities; and shut down the original website of the Referendum.
In the same vein, early this week the Constitutional Court sent a notification to the
Catalan executive, the parliamentary leadership who enabled last weeks vote, all 948
Catalan Mayors, and 60 senior officials -including the directors of Catalan public media-
ordering them to cease any activity related to the referendum.
At the moment of writing this briefing, the Spanish prosecutor announced the filing of
a lawsuit against the 5 members of the Electoral Commission of Catalonia.

In spite of these obstacles, the Catalan Governments determination remains unwavering


and work continues as usual in order to ensure that the voting on 1st October takes place.
In this regard, an event will take place in Tarragona tonight marking the beginning of the
electoral campaign in accordance with article 10 of the Decree on Complementary
Regulations.

Informaci relacionada

DECREE 140/2017, of 6 September, on the complementary regulations for carrying out


the Catalan Selfdetermination Referendum [251,27 KB ]

Briefing #2 - 08.09.2017

Brieng#2

On 6th September, the Government of Catalonia signed the Decree calling for a
referendum on 1st October.

Furthermore, the Catalan Parliament adopted, during this weeks session, two key pieces of
legislation providing the legal framework for the referendum to take place: the Law on the
Referendum on Self-Determination and the Law on Juridical Transition. Besides providing
this legal basis for the referendum, these laws seek to ensure that it is organised and
conducted in accordance with the relevant international standards.

The Law on the Referendum on Self-Determination was passed on Wednesday 6th


September and covers the following content:

http://exteriors.gencat.cat/ca/actualitat/notes-de-context/ 2/19

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