On October 21, Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy threatened to suspend Catalonia’s regional government, invoking (never before used) Article 155 of the national constitution. The measure comes after a unilateral referendum for independence (called for by the Catalonians) that took place on October 1st, and where 991 people were injured by the Spanish police. If ratified by the Spanish Congress Rajoy’s action will put an end to Catalonia’s 40 years of self-rule and to the country’s political map since the 1978 Constitution. This calls into question the democratic principles that have defined post-Francoist Spain and the recognition of Spain as a pluri-national state. These are only the latest episodes of the tensions between the Spanish and Cantalonian governments. The teach-in addressed (some of) the elements at play in today’s conflict. 

Rosi Song (BMC), Israel Burshatin (HC), Ana López-Sánchez (HC) hosted the teach-in, which was held in the new VCAM facility.