Spain Notes, Nov 9: amnesty deal going through + protest options for (alt-)right
1/ Reports are in this morning that the amnesty deal is finally done, and that the PSOE and Puigdemont have managed to work out whatever it was that was stopping them
.2/ A press conference is planned for later this morning with the details.
3/ Yesterday, Europe sent the Spanish government a letter, asking for more details about the amnesty deal…
4/ The Spanish government has replied…basically saying let’s talk about it when the bill has been tabled in parliament, the government is still in an interim state, so parliamentary groups are in charge of new bills, etc.
5/ “Europe has noticed Sánchez”, writes ABC: the damage that Sánchez and the PSOE are doing with the amnesty deal “is looking more and more uncontrollable”.
6/ Last night, alt-right led protests against the amnesty deal continued outside PSOE headquarters in Madrid for a sixth night but with fewer people, and no altercations or violence after the scuffles of previous evenings.
7/ There were several reports of protestors harrassing os shoving journalists: against TVE, against Antena3 and against photographers. “Journalists out!”, “Spanish press, manipulates”, etc, etc.
8/ TVE’s news council issued a statement condemning the harrassment.
9/ The protests will continue tonight, doubtless energised by whatever “treasonous” details are announced at the press conference.
10/ Vox MEP Tertsch went as far as walking up to Puigdemont in the European Parliament and waving his finger at him, in a kind of brief parliamentary showdown.
11/ Ayuso (PP), First Minister of Madrid: “this is a dicatorship by the back door”.
12/ PP spokeswoman Gamarra: “this is a shameful, humilliating deal. A fugitive is going to tell us that he and his friends are above the law just because Sánchez needs their seven votes”.
13/ The PP is still sticking to its calmer, pre-Sunday lunch protest plan.
14/ On Telegram, alt-right influencer Alvise Pérez has a poll with 48,000 replies so far. 78% of his readers want to stop traffic in central Madrid, surround Congress and create a massive global media scandal if Sánchez goes through with the amnesty and reappointment deal.
15/ The comments on the poll suggest burning things and violence.
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I just wonder how many PSOE supporters, because they have done a pretty good job over the last few years with Sanchez at the helm, will feel betrayed by this move to amnesty. It could be a substantial number, and if it does come to an election in January ( still a slight possibility) who will they vote for - if anyone, such is the state of Spanish politics at headline level.