The shit in Spain falls mainly in the fan

[celedhring]

So it looks like that the Catalan ex-president and 5 of his cabinet are indeed trying to get political asylum in Belgium. Hilarious. Can they really avoid extradition to another EU nation? Are the belgians really willing to get embroiled in this mess?

Apparently Belgian law allows for extradition requests to be contested in regular courts, it is being speculated that that's what they're aiming for.

In any case if I was an independentist voter in Catalonia I would feel so inmensely betrayed by now.

Government in exile! VIVE LA RESISTANCE!

It's so fucking ridiculous. I wish I didn't live here so I could laugh at it all.

[Barrister]

If you deeply believe in Catalan independence you dare the authorities to prosecute you.  You make your trial a showcase on how oppressive Spain is.  Hell maybe you go on a hunger strike while in jail.  That's the kind of shit that just might win independence for your country.

Running away to Belgium makes you look like an opportunist.

[celedhring]

I wonder what the other guys charged with rebellion that stayed behind are thinking now. Or the two guys already in jail.

For starters Puigdemont has made the case for the prosecution re: preventive imprisonment much easier given the accredited flight risk.

[The Minsky Moment]

Marx was right.  1936-39 was tragedy, this is farce.

[Duque de Bragança]

So it looks like that the Catalan ex-president and 5 of his cabinet are indeed trying to get political asylum in Belgium. Hilarious. Can they really avoid extradition to another EU nation? Are the belgians really willing to get embroiled in this mess?

Apparently Belgian law allows for extradition requests to be contested in regular courts, it is being speculated that that's what they're aiming for.

In any case if I was an independentist voter in Catalonia I would feel so inmensely betrayed by now.

Belgium counts as part of the Frankish kingdom (Tournais was the first capital after all) so it's good with "we're not Hispanian! vibe".

[The Minsky Moment]

Oh hell no.  Merovingian revivalism must be nipped in the bud. 

[OttoVonBismarck]

Gotta say I have props for Rajoy, he just outright refused to let them secede, reject their referendum and etc. I wish more Western countries would stand up thusly to separatists.

[Archy]

And the farce comes over here
I think Spain-Belgium will detoriate a bit.
I think our francophone classical liberal prime Minister is not amused by his coalition partner.

[Solmyr]

Where's Charles V when you need him.

[celedhring]

Where's Charles V when you need him.

We still keep these around for parades 

[Zanza]

I am in Madrid at the moment and there is a noticeable amount of Spanish flags on balconies etc. I wonder if this is a reaction to the current crisis.

[celedhring]

I am in Madrid at the moment and there is a noticeable amount of Spanish flags on balconies etc. I wonder if this is a reaction to the current crisis.

It is.

[Archy]

As long as Philip doesn't send the Duke of Alva over here I'm happy. 

[CountDeMoney]

Gotta say I have props for Rajoy, he just outright refused to let them secede, reject their referendum and etc. I wish more Western countries would stand up thusly to separatists.

And do it the tactful way:  with prosecutors.

[Iormlund]

Apparently Puigdemont has retained the services of a lawyer that managed to stop the extradition process of a former ETA terrorist.