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‘Coup d’etat’ outrage
HOLLYWOOD Anne Hathaway films & dines on the island
By Joe Duggan
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CATALUNYA could make a unilateral declaration of independence this week as Spain denies carrying out a ‘coup d’etat’ on the region. A campaign of civil disobedience is now being threatened by two radical parties, after Madrid imposed direct rule. Catalunya’s parliament will meet today to discuss the next step, with Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont describing it as the ‘worst attack on Catalunya’ since Franco’s dictatorship.
Protest
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy invoked Article 155 on Saturday, vowing to remove Puigdemont and call for new regional elections. Puigdemont in turn accused Rajoy’s government of attempting to ‘destroy our autonomous government, our democracy’. Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis meanwhile denied a claim by Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell that the measures were ‘a de facto coup d’etat’. “If anyone has attempted a coup, it is the Catalan government," he said. The case continues to hot up, with Catalans beginning to withdraw money from leading banks Sabadell and Caixa in protest of them moving their headquarters out of the region. Some people withdrew €155 in protest at Madrid’s triggering of Article 155. Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence on October 10, but offered to suspend the call for two months to allow dialogue with Madrid. This was rejected
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Wife beater shame
British expats still fearful of being allowed to stay in Spain despite offer from government By Joe Duggan
ANXIOUS expats are urging legal action to ensure they can stay in Spain post-Brexit. It comes after Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said British citizens would be welcome to stay in the event of a ‘no-deal’ with Europe. Dastis pointed out that 17 million Brits visit the country each year, saying ‘many of them live here or retire here and we want to keep it that way’. But in the event of a no-deal, the loss of existing rights such as healthcare could make living in Spain impractical, claim campaigners.
MUTANT Palma’s biggest ever turtle is saved SEE MORE P 4
NO YELLOW Why gifting yellow is HAUNTED a no-go in Spots in Spain Spain SEE MORE P 11
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Give us our rights!
Threat
"The threat to our rights and freedoms that Brexit represents causes us great anxiety - especially if no deal can be reached,” insisted Sue WilUntitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 15:36 son, Chair of expat group DEMANDING ASSURANCE: Expats want new laws Bremain in Spain this week. protecting them
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THE Balearic Islands witness the highest levels of CM violence against women across the country. MY Almost 27 out of every CY 10,000 women reported a violent act against them CMY during the second quarter of 2017 compared to K the national average of 17. Balearic courts received 1,390 allegations of gender-based violence during the period.
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Vol. 1 Issue 14 www.theolivepress.es October 26th - November 8th 2017
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“Dastis' comments are welcome but don't resolve the main issues concerning British citizens. “Our concerns relate to whether circumstances will allow us to stay, even if we have permission from the Spanish government." She added: “If our rights and freedoms as EU citizens are not protected, then the Spanish authorities allowing us to stay will not be enough on its own." It comes after fears mounted that Britain will crash out of the EU without a final Brexit deal, with Theresa May admitting the Brussels negotiations have hit ‘difficulty’. Already some long-term expats have started the process of applying for Spanish citizenship with many more
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e-mail: advocat1@demicco.es mobile number: 636 307 533 WWW.DEMICCO.CH
unwilling to give up their UK passports. Renouncing British citizenship and getting a Spanish passport creates concerns over their future status when returning to the UK. “If a British person becomes a Spanish citizen, what happens if they later return to care for an elderly parent? Would they be just another unwelcome European citizen?" Wilson asked.
Change
Dual nationality for Spanish-based Brits is currently not allowed by Madrid, with Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett leading a campaign to change the current law. Bremain in Spain member Margaret Hales MBE, 70, called on the Spanish government to alter its current stance. "I would ask Rajoy to pledge a change in law so that British people who wish to apply for Spanish nationality could continue to hold their British nationality,” she said. Opinion Page 6