Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Catalan is Rapidly Running Out of Time

For anyone who has been following the news out of Spain this week, you will know that it is absolute rollercoaster, an utter and complete mess to say the least.

The country has been thrown into chaos over the Catalan separatist movement and attempting to decipher the truth of what is actually going on, on the ground within that region is nearly impossible to do so.

The reasoning for this, is the constant conflicting news stories, that come out only hours apart. Throughout the week, there has been a constant back and forth of stories, one will claim that the separatist leader Carles Puidgement is giving into the demands of Madrid, then only hours later, he posts a defiant Instagram post, alluding to the exact opposite. As previously stated, it's a mess.

Sadly, for the separatist movement, time is running out for them and the elites in Spain are growing impatient. Article 155, which will allow the Spanish government to crack down viciously on the Catalan region is set to be enacted tonight at 12 p.m.

This dwindling timeline has done nothing to clear the fog of confusion, as we are now hearing two different stories as of even today. One states that the Catalan separatist party is petitioning Madrid for the ability to hold a snap election, and the other states that they will simply declare independence.

The Spain Report is one outlet claiming that the Catalan "rebel" government will choose the latter option and has chosen to declare independence:

Catalan separatist parties—Junts PEL Sí ("Together For Yes") and the CUP (Popular Unity Candidacy)—have registered a motion to declare the independence of Catalonia in the regional parliament.

A copy of the document published by Spanish media included the phrase: "We constitute the Catalan Republic as an independent sovereign democratic, social state of law".

The text would also approve the activation of the secession bill approved by the regional chamber at the beginning of September and voided by the Constitutional Court and "begin the constituent process".

Wherever the truth lies, is unknown. But what we do know is that Carles Puidgement is stuck between a rock and a hard place and is rapidly running out of time. Anger within the region is demanding that Catalan separate, while the government in Madrid is forcefully demanding that they back down, or else.

This, as I have previously stated is not going to end well. Carles Puidgement knows that his life is on the line and it is exactly why he has been recently seen backpedaling on some of his statements, he knows that this is not a game and has likely been privy to many behind the scenes threats.

His bravery cannot be understated, as the elites of the Western world are likely to come down in full force on him and his minuscule government. There will be little they can do if Spain decides to resolve this situation with violence.

Only the condemnation and watchful eyes of liberty lovers around the world will hold the tyrannical forces in check, as the Spanish government knows that there will be repercussions on the international markets if they act with extreme violence, against a democratically decided outcome.

Sadly, at this time, besides the people resisting on the ground within Catalan, we are the best hope they have, as little consolation as that may be.

- As first seen on Sprott Money