Spanish elections and politics III / Pedro Sánchez faces a new term as PM

[Mike88]

It seems that Casado will resign as leader during this afternoon.

[Velasco]

Teodoro García Egea has resigned yet, while Pablo Casado accepts to call an extraordinary congress. Without his right hand, the PP leader is completely isolated and alone

[Zinneke]

It's amazing how nepotism is basically an open part of the PP ideology now.

[jeron]

Teodoro García Egea has resigned yet, while Pablo Casado accepts to call an extraordinary congress. Without his right hand, the PP leader is completely isolated and alone

He basically resigned without resigning immediately and wants a dignified exit. The question is whether the PP accepts this. Apparently some want him to resign now and not wait until the congress

[Velasco]

Teodoro García Egea has resigned yet, while Pablo Casado accepts to call an extraordinary congress. Without his right hand, the PP leader is completely isolated and alone

He basically resigned without resigning immediately and wants a dignified exit. The question is whether the PP accepts this. Apparently some want him to resign now and not wait until the congress

Teodoro García Egea was offered in sacrifice, in a vain attempt to placate the 'barons'

On the other hand, Pablo Casado made yesterday his last parliamentary speech as PP leader. Pedro Sánchez wished him the best in the subsequent reply, sanctioning the end of Casado's leadership in the opposition. Pablo Casado left the  hall shortly afterwards, followed by one of his few remaining loyals (former journalist Pablo Montesinos, MP for Málaga). It has been particularly painful for Pablo Casado to see how all the people who owes him a position within the party was exiting the sinking ship. One by one everybody was leaving Casado alone and only the Madrid mayor Almeida had the decency to make a phone call, just to tell he was resigning as party spokesman. The spectacle of political cannibalism is being incredible and one can wonder whether Pablo Casado will be able to forget or forgive. Even though I deem Pablo Casado as a weak and inconsistent leader, nobody deserves to be treated with such cruelty.  Even though he aired the alleged corruption of Ayuso's brother for his own benefit and not for public morality reasons, the behavior denounced is at the very least immoral and besides Ayuso owes Casado her position. In spite of his lack of political consistency and his vociferous hyperboles, Pablo Casado was occassionally capable of brilliant parliamentary speeches. He will he remembered by his performance during the debate of the no confidence motion submitted by Vox. Sadly his rhetoric in defence of basic principles was not accompanied by his actions

[Velasco]

All partes condemn Putin's aggression to Ukraine. However there are different nuances in the reactions. IU rejects sanctions, blames the NATO as a factor of destabilization and advocates its dissolution to be replaced by an independent security policy for Europe. Iñigo Errejón asks Europe for a propoetionate and autonomous response. Deputy PM Yolanda Diaz condemns the intolerable aggression and says diplomacy and international law must prevail within the UN framework. Vox remained silent for several hours (the party is deemed the most pro-Putin in Spain due to its association with Orban and Le Pen, but recently its spokesman rejected that label), even though later condemned the invasion while attacking the European Commission for its alleged irresponsibility in this crisis. ERC spokesman Gabriel Rufián opposses participation in possible military reprisals, while the PNV counterpart asks Europe to take some decisive action. Cs leader Inés Arrimadas backs the government. Pablo Casado, who is still the PP leader, contacted Pedro Sánchez this morning  to say the PP supports a coordinated response with the NATO and the EU.

https://twitter.com/el_pais/status/1496836307636604930?t=1q-A19RgOcBPigMyiCcoow&...

[Velasco]

While everybody is in state of shock and looking towards Ukraine,  the regional government of Madrid admits that Ayuso's brother was paid 283,000 Euros by the enterprise of Ayuso's friend (just like Pablo Casado was claiming). The Madrid government claims such payments are not related to the € 1.5 million contract awarded to that enterprise, which sold Chinese masks at € 5 per unit during the worst stage of the pandemic

https://twitter.com/Guerraeterna/status/1496966360093663232?t=CO403svEL_vIZRB6fe...

Regardless of what Vox claims today, the Santiago Abascal party is the main ally of Putin in Spain. All the attendants of the "populist right" summit held past month in Madrid have links and share common ground with Vladimir Putin, save the Polish nationalists that fear Russian imperialism. As journalist Enric Juliana outlines in the tweet below there is not a common rightwing populist platform, but rather a shared view and coincidences with the Russian nationalist platform mentored by the Kremlin's ideologue Alexei Dugin ("Eurasian bloc" against the decadent America and the rising Islam). The most naive among the friends of the Russian leader has been the now discredited Matteo Salvini, who was photographed wearing a Putin Tshirt

https://twitter.com/EnricJuliana/status/1497156561902448654?t=LKTvgACHkjLLUWqwyY...

https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/29/europe-s-far-right-meets-in-madrid-for-two-day-summit-led-by-spain-s-vox

The two-day summit organised by Vox, Spain's far-right party that keeps gaining traction in the southern European country, gathered a strong lineup of the continent's nationalist, populist and illiberal politicians.

Some of the important figures attending are Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and his Polish counterpart, PiS' Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as France's presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen.

The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, "the aim is to continue the work begun at the Warsaw summit [in December]," which he describes as defending "Europe against external and internal threats by promoting an alternative to the globalist trend which threatens the European Union by attacking the sovereignty of nations."  

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Can’t believe Casado’s managed to take down both major PP leaders at the same time.

[Velasco]

Can’t believe Casado’s managed to take down both major PP leaders at the same time.

What do you mean exactly? Casado has surrendered already and right now he must be negotiating the terms of the armistice to hand power over the Galician 'baron'. Ayuso remains in place

[Mike88]

Can’t believe Casado’s managed to take down both major PP leaders at the same time.

What do you mean exactly? Casado has surrendered already and right now he must be negotiating the terms of the armistice to hand power over the Galician 'baron'. Ayuso remains in place

I think he means that, even though Casado comitted political suicide, he also killed the "aura" of Ayuso, as it seems clear, right now, that there was a clear conflict of interest, at least, between her and the dealings with her brother.

[Velasco]

Can’t believe Casado’s managed to take down both major PP leaders at the same time.

What do you mean exactly? Casado has surrendered already and right now he must be negotiating the terms of the armistice to hand power over the Galician 'baron'. Ayuso remains in place

I think he means that, even though Casado comitted political suicide, he also killed the "aura" of Ayuso, as it seems clear, right now, that there was a clear conflict of interest, at least, between her and the dealings with her brother.

Yes, all right.  The thing is, I am afraid, Ayuso resembles Trump a little and her "populist aura" is rather strong. I mean, many people here is in the opinion that Ayuso's fans care little about conflicts of interest. By the moment this affair prevents her from taking over national leadership, but she is young and the memory of public opinion is weak.  Also, it's up to see how Feijoo will manage to cope with Vox. This is the elephant in the room for the PP leadership, because there are no other choices available. Ayuso would have no problem in signing coalition deals with Vox, but the case of Feijoo is different. He has been governing Galicia with comfortable majorities since 2009, but parliamentary majorities are not possible in Spain with the current fragmentation. In order to regain power the PP will have to engage in coalitions, either with Vox or with the PSOE

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Can’t believe Casado’s managed to take down both major PP leaders at the same time.

What do you mean exactly? Casado has surrendered already and right now he must be negotiating the terms of the armistice to hand power over the Galician 'baron'. Ayuso remains in place

I think he means that, even though Casado comitted political suicide, he also killed the "aura" of Ayuso, as it seems clear, right now, that there was a clear conflict of interest, at least, between her and the dealings with her brother.

Yes, all right.  The thing is, I am afraid, Ayuso resembles Trump a little and her "populist aura" is rather strong. I mean, many people here is in the opinion that Ayuso's fans care little about conflicts if interest. By the moment this affair prevents her from taking over national leadership, but she is young and the memory of public opinion is weak.  Also, it's up to see how Feijoo will manage to cope with Vox. This is the elephant in the room for the PP leadership, because there are no other choices available. Ayuso would have no problem in signing coalition deals with Vox, but the case of Feijoo is different. He has been governing Galicia with comfortable majorities since 2009, but parliamentary majorities are not possible in Spain with the current fragmentation. In order to regain power the PP will have to engage in coalitions, either with Vox or with the PSOE

Could a PSOE-PP coalition even work?

[omar04]

What are Feijoo's chances if he runs against Ayuso in the leadership elections?

[RodPresident]

And PP's founding myth is that JCI chose Suarez and not Fraga?

[Velasco]

Could a PSOE-PP coalition even work?

I don't know and maybe it would depend on which party is the major partner.  My impression is that there's a part of the Spanish establishment that has been toying with the idea of a PP-PSOE grand coalition of sorts, providing the evil Pedro Sánchez is sacrificed. There are other establishment elements that would be quite happy with a PP-VOX coalition

What are Feijoo's chances if he runs against Ayuso in the leadership elections?

I guess Feijoo vs Ayuso would be a tight contest,  but Feijoo is not going to face Ayuso this time

And PP's founding myth is that JCI chose Suarez and not Fraga?

Juan Carlos I picked Suárez in 1976, not Fraga

[Zinneke]

Why is Rufian saying that Puigdemont is a Kremlin asset? Have relations between ERC and old Convergents basically deteriorated? Does Rufian prefer Sanchez to his Catalan coalition partner?

[Just the facts]

While everybody is in state of shock and looking towards Ukraine,  the regional government of Madrid admits that Ayuso's brother was paid 283,000 Euros by the enterprise of Ayuso's friend (just like Pablo Casado was claiming). The Madrid government claims such payments are not related to the € 1.5 million contract awarded to that enterprise, which sold Chinese masks at € 5 per unit during the worst stage of the pandemic

https://twitter.com/Guerraeterna/status/1496966360093663232?t=CO403svEL_vIZRB6fe...
Regardless of what Vox claims today, the Santiago Abascal party is the main ally of Putin in Spain. All the attendants of the "populist right" summit held past month in Madrid have links and share common ground with Vladimir Putin, save the Polish nationalists that fear Russian imperialism. As journalist Enric Juliana outlines in the tweet below there is not a common rightwing populist platform, but rather a shared view and coincidences with the Russian nationalist platform mentored by the Kremlin's ideologue Alexei Dugin ("Eurasian bloc" against the decadent America and the rising Islam). The most naive among the friends of the Russian leader has been the now discredited Matteo Salvini, who was photographed wearing a Putin Tshirt

https://twitter.com/EnricJuliana/status/1497156561902448654?t=LKTvgACHkjLLUWqwyY...
https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/29/europe-s-far-right-meets-in-madrid-for-two-day-summit-led-by-spain-s-vox

The two-day summit organised by Vox, Spain's far-right party that keeps gaining traction in the southern European country, gathered a strong lineup of the continent's nationalist, populist and illiberal politicians.

Some of the important figures attending are Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and his Polish counterpart, PiS' Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as France's presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen.

The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, "the aim is to continue the work begun at the Warsaw summit [in December]," which he describes as defending "Europe against external and internal threats by promoting an alternative to the globalist trend which threatens the European Union by attacking the sovereignty of nations."  

Funny how Juliana forgot to mention Putin's links with Catalan independentism, which are far more direct that taking a picture with someone who's wearing a Putin t-shirt. Oopsie! Oh, by the way, the guy in the t-shirt...used to be goods pal with Catalan independentists.

[Zinneke]

lmfao I'm the one who brought it up and the first one to criticize the Catalan separatist strategy but you're out of your depth if you think a) Puigdemont ever had a closer relationship with Putin than the far right Internationale that includes Abascal and Salvini, b) just because a journalist is Catalan (from La Vanguardia no less) he should somehow take ownership of the issue because he is Catalan and c) thinking Salvini and Puigdemont were ever close politically or shot from the same hip. There's so many amalgamations in your thought its kind of embarrassing dude. In the end Salvini and Abascal are the Putin psycophants, not Congervencia.

[Velasco]

[
Funny how Juliana forgot to mention Putin's links with Catalan independentism, which are far more direct that taking a picture with someone who's wearing a Putin t-shirt. Oopsie! Oh, by the way, the guy in the t-shirt...used to be goods pal with Catalan independentists.

It's a matter of fact there exists a connection between Putin and Vox through the ultraconservative group HazteOir.

https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20220319/ultraderecha-vox-oligarcas-putin-traves-hazteoir-citizengo/658184665_0.html

https://elpais.com/politica/2017/08/03/actualidad/1501774274_152047.html



https://ctxt.es/es/20220301/Firmas/38961/malofeev-rusia-ucrania-guerra-abascal-hazteoir-arsuaga-villar-mir-oligarcas-antigenero-ultraderecha.htm

lmfao I'm the one who brought it up and the first one to criticize the Catalan separatist strategy but you're out of your depth if you think a) Puigdemont ever had a closer relationship with Putin than the far right Internationale that includes Abascal and Salvini, b) just because a journalist is Catalan (from La Vanguardia no less) he should somehow take ownership of the issue because he is Catalan and c) thinking Salvini and Puigdemont were ever close politically or shot from the same hip. There's so many amalgamations in your thought its kind of embarrassing dude. In the end Salvini and Abascal are the Putin psycophants, not Congervencia.

There were alleged connections between Putin's Russia and certain Catalan nationalists

https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4809920/0/posible-conexion-rusa-entorno-puigdemont-agita-politica-catalana/


PP and Vox signed a coalition deal in Castilla y León.  Sad that nobody cares to post anything about this development

[Zinneke]

[
Funny how Juliana forgot to mention Putin's links with Catalan independentism, which are far more direct that taking a picture with someone who's wearing a Putin t-shirt. Oopsie! Oh, by the way, the guy in the t-shirt...used to be goods pal with Catalan independentists.

It's a matter of fact there exists a connection between Putin and Vox through the ultraconservative group HazteOir.

https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20220319/ultraderecha-vox-oligarcas-putin-traves-hazteoir-citizengo/658184665_0.html

https://elpais.com/politica/2017/08/03/actualidad/1501774274_152047.html



https://ctxt.es/es/20220301/Firmas/38961/malofeev-rusia-ucrania-guerra-abascal-hazteoir-arsuaga-villar-mir-oligarcas-antigenero-ultraderecha.htm

lmfao I'm the one who brought it up and the first one to criticize the Catalan separatist strategy but you're out of your depth if you think a) Puigdemont ever had a closer relationship with Putin than the far right Internationale that includes Abascal and Salvini, b) just because a journalist is Catalan (from La Vanguardia no less) he should somehow take ownership of the issue because he is Catalan and c) thinking Salvini and Puigdemont were ever close politically or shot from the same hip. There's so many amalgamations in your thought its kind of embarrassing dude. In the end Salvini and Abascal are the Putin psycophants, not Congervencia.

There were alleged connections between Putin's Russia and certain Catalan nationalists

https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4809920/0/posible-conexion-rusa-entorno-puigdemont-agita-politica-catalana/


PP and Vox signed a coalition deal in Castilla y León.  Sad that nobody cares to post anything about this development

So Puigdemonts entourage went to meet Russian officials but they also met a whole bunch of other officials from other countries... Yes Rufian is right to say that they take themselves way too seriously, his James Bond quote is spot on, but it's also a total misdirection to suggest that the Kremlin were behind El Procès (it would have been a much smoother operation), which is what some right wing mouthpieces of PP and the deep state Populares are desperate to present.

Meanwhile there is evidence the Kremlin funds the far right in Europe and anyone with a modicum of objectivity can tell which actors have agency and autonomy in their actions and which ones it took an entire day to react to the invasion because they needed a line from their handlers.

[Velasco]

Embarrassing dude. In the end Salvini and Abascal are the Putin psycophants, not Congervencia.


So Puigdemonts entourage went to meet Russian officials but they also met a whole bunch oer officials from other countries... Yes Rufian is right to say that they take themselves way too seriously, his James Bond quote is spot on, but it's also a total misdirection to suggest that the Kremlin were behind El Procès (it would have been a much smoother operation), which is what some right wing mouthpieces of PP and the deep state Populares are desperate to present.

Meanwhile there is evidence the Kremlin funds the far right in Europe and anyone with a modicum of objectivity can tell which actors have agency and autonomy in their actions and which ones it took an entire day to react to the invasion because they needed a line from their handlers.

It's telling the Puigdemont's office made a release full of outrage and accusations against the evil Spanish state,  but there is no denial of the contacts between the Puigdemont's envoy and the Russian officials. It's not the first time there are allegations of contacts between Catalan separatists and Putin's Russia,  on the other hand.

Worth noticing that Putin's Russia supports far-right populist authoritarians in Europe, while its allies in Latin America are Nicolás Maduro, Daniel Ortega and the Cuban government. Likewise Putin's Russia has an excellent relationship with the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. These alliances are apparently contradictory, but they make sense if you consider the goals of Putin's foreign policy. It serms that
Putin wants to antagonize the USA and their allies in Western Europe, as well seeks to destabilize his adversaries through different means.

Finally it's important to notice that Puigdemont is the leader of a Catalan nationalist faction that is the main heir of the old Convergencia.  However, the current incarnations of that brand of Catalan nationalism are products of a particular evolution. My admired Entic Juliana describes that evolution as "the mutation of the Convergencia's gene". I mean, Junts per Catalunya is far away from the "collaborationalist " and "regionalist" Convergencia. One could say that JxCAT has a lot of "populist" and "cult sect" elements.

Of course the Catalan "process " to independence is not a Russian fabrication (I don't think anyone is seriously claiming that in Spain), but I'm not surprised at all to discover there have been contacts between Puigdemont's entourage and Putin's officials.

On the other hand, it is well established that HazteOir / CitizenGo have received donations from Konstantin Malofeev.  HazteOir is an organization very closely linked to Vox, while Malofeev is an ultra-conservative oligarch from Russia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CitizenGo

 CitizenGO is an ultra-conservative advocacy group founded in Madrid, Spain, in 2013 by the ultra-Catholic and far-right HazteOir organization (...)

In 2013, CitizenGo signed a declaration in support of the Russian law, which had the stated purpose of protecting children from being exposed to homosexuality  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Malofeev

 Konstantin Valeryevich Malofeev (Russian: Константин Валерьевич Малофеев) is a Russian businessman and chairman of non-government pro-monarchism organisation Society for the Development of Russian Historical Education Double-Headed Eagle. He is chairman of the board of directors of the media group Tsargrad dedicated to Russian Orthodox Christianity and support of President Vladimir Putin    

[Zinneke]

Embarrassing dude. In the end Salvini and Abascal are the Putin psycophants, not Congervencia.


So Puigdemonts entourage went to meet Russian officials but they also met a whole bunch oer officials from other countries... Yes Rufian is right to say that they take themselves way too seriously, his James Bond quote is spot on, but it's also a total misdirection to suggest that the Kremlin were behind El Procès (it would have been a much smoother operation), which is what some right wing mouthpieces of PP and the deep state Populares are desperate to present.

Meanwhile there is evidence the Kremlin funds the far right in Europe and anyone with a modicum of objectivity can tell which actors have agency and autonomy in their actions and which ones it took an entire day to react to the invasion because they needed a line from their handlers.

It's telling the Puigdemont's office made a release full of outrage and accusations against the evil Spanish state,  but there is no denial of the contacts between the Puigdemont's envoy and the Russian officials. It's not the first time there are allegations of contacts between Catalan separatists and Putin's Russia,  on the other hand.

Worth noticing that Putin's Russia supports far-right populist authoritarians in Europe, while its allies in Latin America are Nicolás Maduro, Daniel Ortega and the Cuban government. Likewise Putin's Russia has an excellent relationship with the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.  These alliances are apparently contradictory, but they make sense if you consider the goals of Putin's foreign policy. It serms that
Putin wants to antagonize the USA and their allies in Western Europe, as well seeks to destabilize his adversaries through different means.

Finally it's important to notice that Puigdemont is the leader of a Catalan nationalist faction that is the main heir of the old Convergencia.  However, the current incarnations of that brand of Catalan nationalism are products of a particular evolution. My admired Entic Juliana describes that evolution as "the mutation of the Convergencia's gene". I mean, Junts per Catalunya is far away from the "collaborationalist " and "regionalist" Convergencia. One could say that JxCAT has a lot of "populist" and "cult sect" elements.

Of course the Catalan "process " to independence is not a Russian fabrication (I don't think anyone is seriously claiming that in Spain), but I'm not surprised at all to discover there have been contacts between Puigdemont's entourage and Putin's officials.

On the other hand, it is well established that HazteOir / CitizenGo have received donations from Konstantin Malofeev.  HazteOir is an organization very closely linked to Vox, while Malofeev is an ultra-conservative oligarch from Russia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CitizenGo

  CitizenGO is an ultra-conservative advocacy group founded in Madrid, Spain, in 2013 by the ultra-Catholic and far-right HazteOir organization (...)

In 2013, CitizenGo signed a declaration in support of the Russian law,[29][30] which had the stated purpose of protecting children from being exposed to homosexuality 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Malofeev

  Konstantin Valeryevich Malofeev (Russian: Константин Валерьевич Малофеев) is a Russian businessman and chairman of non-government pro-monarchism organisation Society for the Development of Russian Historical Education Double-Headed Eagle. He is chairman of the board of directors of the media group Tsargrad dedicated to Russian Orthodox Christianity and support of President Vladimir Putin   

I'm denying nothing in what you've said, these are fair arguments. But I'm saying that the idea that Puigdemont as an exiled politician is talking to other government, be it Russian, US, Bhutan, Cameroon or Libaland is not necessarily a criminal move. That's the main argument of his chief of staff and tbh I am willing to accept plausible deniability : just because you meet with foreign policy officials of xyz country does not mean you are their assets. Whether Puigdemont has the mandate to talk to them is another matter (and he is trying to set such a thing up via a Catalan Parliament approved government-in-exile).

As a reminder, any Catalan government official that approaches any international institution or actor to talk about the referendum or anything related to self-determination risks a fine or even prison for sedition. I'd expect that from countries like PR China and Russia, not an EU country.

I otherwise agree with your criticisms of Junts and of the Puigdemont cult as a whole. i think there's a lot to be said about the Procès and the independence movement but to argue that it is all a result of a Russian psy op as some Spanish media (not you) are using this mini-scandal to suggest, it's honestly totally propagandist and Rufian was an idiot to leave that goal open. Puigdemont supports Ukraine, ANC's main figures too and only a few complete anti-imp new left useful idiot types in their ranks have spoken in favour of Putin and the DNR/LNR debacle. Compare that to Abascal and his awkwardness on the issue.

[Velasco]

As I said before, Vox is already governing in Castilla y León

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/spain-far-right-vox-regional-government-castilla-y-leon-peoples-party-deal

 The far-right Vox party is set to form part of a regional Spanish government for the first time after cutting a deal to run the north-western autonomous community of Castilla y León with its bitter rivals in the conservative People’s party (PP).

The deal, which comes almost a month after the PP’s decision to call regional elections failed to produce the absolute majority it had hoped for, follows weeks of wrangling amid a PP leadership crisis.

Although the PP finished first in February’s vote, its victory was pyrrhic and proved yet another misstep for its leader, Pablo Casado, who will stand down next month (...)

 The agreement was swiftly criticised by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE), which governs Spain in coalition with the far-left Unidas Podemos alliance.

The PSOE’s vice-secretary general, Adriana Lastra, said it was a “pact of shame” that had brought the far right back into power for the first time since the end of the Franco dictatorship. Lastra also laid the blame at the door of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the PP president of Galicia, who is set to take over from Casado.

“The far right is back in government 40 years on, thanks to Feijóo,” she tweeted. “Today is a bad day for Castilla y León and for Spanish democracy.”

Her comments came hours after Feijóo said that Spain needed “a new politics that listens and offers moderation and calm”.

 Vox – which has called for a “reconquest” of Spain, the building of an “unbreachable wall” around the north African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the repealing of laws on gender-based violence – regularly rails against what it sees as the hegemony of political correctness./quote]
 

The regional law on gender based violence will be repealed as a result of this deal between PP and Vox, being replaced by a law on family violence. Denial of the existence of a structural gender based violence is part of a "cultural war" against the left and the feminist movement




In other sad and terrible news, Pedro Sánchez inexplicably surrenders to Morocco, endorsing its plan to govern the occupied West Sahara.  The plan is rejected by the Polisario Front and the Sahrawis. This move to appease Morocco also triggers a diplomatic crisis with Algeria, which happens to be Spain's main gas supplier, as well division between coalition partners PSOE and UP

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/19/world/europe/spain-morocco-western-sahara.html

  The Moroccan plan would allow the Sahrawis to run their own administration, but under Moroccan sovereignty and with Morocco in charge of defense and foreign affairs.

The Polisario Front, which has long fought Morocco’s control over Western Sahara, with the backing of neighboring Algeria has demanded a referendum on self-determination, as prescribed by a 1991 cease-fire and U.N.-mediated talks.

Spain had previously sought to remain equidistant in the conflict, calling for a U.N.-brokered settlement that would fulfill previous U.N. resolutions. But during a news conference late Friday, Mr. Albares described Morocco’s autonomy plan as “the most serious, realistic, and credible basis” for a resolution of the conflict over Western Sahara.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry welcomed what it called the “constructive commitments” from Spain over Western Sahara, adding that the shift creates “a clear and ambitious road map” that would reinforce the relationship with Madrid. On Saturday, Algeria’s foreign ministry recalled its ambassador in Madrid for consultations, while saying that it was “very surprised” by the new Spanish stance.

Spain and Morocco have often feuded over Western Sahara. Last year, Morocco recalled its ambassador to protest Madrid’s decision to allow the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, to undergo treatment for Covid-19 under an alias in a hospital in northern Spain. The disclosure of Mr. Ghali’s trip was followed by the sudden entry of thousands of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish coastal enclave in northern Africa. Spain claimed that the influx had been facilitated by Morocco’s briefly lifting border surveillance.
 

[Velasco]

I'm denying nothing in what you've said, these are fair arguments. But I'm saying that the idea that Puigdemont as an exiled politician is talking to other government, be it Russian, US, Bhutan, Cameroon or Libaland is not necessarily a criminal move. That's the main argument of his chief of staff and tbh I am willing to accept plausible deniability : just because you meet with foreign policy officials of xyz country does not mean you are their assets. Whether Puigdemont has the mandate to talk to them is another matter (and he is trying to set such a thing up via a Catalan Parliament approved government-in-exile).

As a reminder, any Catalan government official that approaches any international institution or actor to talk about the referendum or anything related to self-determination risks a fine or even prison for sedition. I'd expect that from countries like PR China and Russia, not an EU country.

I otherwise agree with your criticisms of Junts and of the Puigdemont cult as a whole. i think there's a lot to be said about the Procès and the independence movement but to argue that it is all a result of a Russian psy op as some Spanish media (not you) are using this mini-scandal to suggest, it's honestly totally propagandist and Rufian was an idiot to leave that goal open. Puigdemont supports Ukraine, ANC's main figures too and only a few complete anti-imp new left useful idiot types in their ranks have spoken in favour of Putin and the DNR/LNR debacle. Compare that to Abascal and his awkwardness on the issue.

While talking with Russian officials or receiving funds from oligarchs are not not necessarily criminal moves, I haven't noticed Catalan government officials have been prosecuted for the reasons you mention. I have said repeatedly that I think the prison sentences were disproportionate, but the separatist leaders were mot tried and jailed for approaching foreign institutions. I think there have been multiple attempts to approach international institutions from Catalan government representatives, actually. Nobody has been sent to prison for that. Catalan politicians were trialed as a result of certain events that happened in autumn 2017, such as the unconstitutional 'disconnection laws' passed by the Catalan Parliament and the unilateral declaration of independence. Those were serious infringements. While I don't agree with the prison sentences or the very existence of the crime of sedition, the conparisons with the PRC or Turkey are inappropiate. I think it's legitimate to criticize the judges for the prison sentences, or the Spanish government for not granting a referendum. Claiming that Catalans are an oppressed people like the Kurds, the Sahrawis or the Palestinians is simply going too far. On the other hand, Vox also claims being supporting Ukraine. The claims of Puigdemont or Abascal on this issue are meaningless to me and I care little about Rufián

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

https://www.eldiario.es/madrid/vox-vota-retirar-llave-oro-madrid-putin_1_8872574.html

Vox votes against withdrawing the Golden Key of Madrid* from Putin
* (a sort of "key to the city" like in America)

All of the political parties of the Madrid City Council, except the far-right, supported the withdrawal of the Golden Key of the city of Madrid granted to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in 2006 when Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón was the mayor. The Vox spokesperson in the City Council, Javier Ortega Smith, has justified his position alleging that they had doubts about whether the Key was granted to Putin "or to the Russian people," "who are not to blame for supporting the tyrant".

[…]

This Wednesday, the mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, replied to the Vox spokesperson and explained, in an interview on Telecinco, that the Golden Key of the City was given to the head of state, in this case, Putin, not to the Russian people, as Ortega Smith maintained. The mayor has indicated that it is what the regulation establishes, for which the withdrawal of it is “justified.”