Politics of Catalonia

Hong Kong protesters plan to rally on Thursday evening to show solidarity with people demonstrating in Spain's wealthiest region of Catalonia over jail sentences handed out to nine separatist leaders.

One of the most prominent figures against independence for the Spanish region of Catalonia staged a counter-protest on Oct. 20 after a week of separatist unrest and called for an end to the violence.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a warning late on Oct. 18 for its citizens traveling to the Spanish region of Catalonia due to security concerns in its capital, Barcelona.

Hundreds of thousands of pro-independence supporters from across Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia are expected to pour into Barcelona on Oct. 18, as unions called for a general strike on the fifth day of protests following the jailing of nine separatist leaders.
Many of those walking towards the Catalan capital were waving pro-independence flags, Reuters witnesses said.

The leader of Spain's Catalonia region condemned increasing unrest in the city of Barcelona on Oct. 17, as protests intensified three days after nine leaders of a 2017 independence bid were sentenced to up to 13 years in jail.

Belgium has received a third European arrest warrant request from Spain's Supreme Court for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, a spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor said on Oct. 16.

At least 37 protesters were injured on Oct. 14 in clashes with police at Barcelona's airport after Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine separatists to prison for illegally promoting Catalan independence, according to local authorities.       

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Friday a general election would be held in Spain on April 28, reported Euro News. 

The decision followed the Spanish parliament's rejection of the government's preliminary 2019 budget on Wednesday.

A sensitive trial against a dozen Catalan separatist politicians and activists got underway on Feb. 12 in Spain's Supreme Court amid protests by pro-independence supporters and a highly volatile political environment.

Spain's Supreme Court on Oct. 25 ordered 18 former Catalan leaders to stand trial over their role in last year's declaration of independence.