Violence Is Not the Answer: World Leaders React to Madrid Tactics in Catalonia

Many senior EU politicians, including the European parliament lawmakers, as well as a prominent human watchdog have strongly criticized Spanish police for disproportionate use of force against voters who sought to cast their ballots in the independence referendum in Catalonia.

Earlier in the day, a number of polling stations opened across Catalonia. The Spanish government is considering the vote to be illegal and taking measures aimed at foiling the referendum. According to media reports, police resorted to rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters, who attempted to prevent police from shutting down the polling stations. Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau said that over 460 people were injured in Catalonia during the region's independence referendum.

EU Member States' Officials

Martin Schulz, the leader of German Social Democratic Party called the ongoing clashes in Catalonia alarming, and urged the sides to seek political dialogue.

"The escalation in Spain is alarming. Madrid and Barcelona must immediately de-escalate and search for the dialogue," Schulz wrote on Twitter.

UK Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn also criticized the brutality of Spanish police, calling on UK Prime Minister Theresa May to urge her Spanish counterpart to end violence.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon called on the Spanish central government to let Catalan residents vote peacefully.

Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel reiterated the international community’s call on the Spanish authorities for political dialogue instead of violence.

Meanwhile, Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum, Migration and Administrative Simplification Theo Francken strongly condemned EU senior officials for ignoring the issue.

"[If] similar police violence [took place] in Hungary or Poland, and [President of the European Commission Jean-Claude] Juncker, [European Commission's First Vice-President Frans] Timmermans… would react furious. Now? Nothing. #EUfail," Francken wrote on Twitter.

Greece’s ruling leftist Syriza party also condemned the use of force against the voters.

"Suppression and violence against civilians is a shameful and authoritarian choice, which will only worsen the situation and will not solve the problems. The only way is a democratic dialogue. This is the only option in the context of the European values," the party’s press service said.

European Parliament Lawmakers

The Greens group in the European Parliament believes that the use of force against civilians is a big mistake and calls on all sides to return to the negotiating table, group co-presidents Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts said, in a joint statement.

"We follow the developments in Catalonia with deep concern. The massive police violence against peaceful people trying to vote is a huge mistake by Rajoy. It will only worsen the situation. Regardless the outcome of today's vote, both sides have to come back to the negotiation table," the statement read.

The group stressed that the ongoing crisis should be solved by diplomacy, not by force.

"The European Commission can't continue to turn a blind eye on the situation in Catalonia. We urge the Commission to promote dialogue and to offer mediation," the statement added.

European Parliament Vice-President Ulrike Lunacek noted that the referendum in Catalonia was legitimate, adding that it nonetheless should have been agreed upon with Madrid.

"In principle, the referendum is legitimate, but — as the example of Scotland showed — should be carried out in agreement with Madrid. At the same time, the central government must finally end the dialogue blockade. I strongly condemn the use of rubber bullets and batons by the Spanish forces and call for de-escalation," Lunacek said in a statement.

Lunacek reiterated the call of the Greens group in the European Parliament on the European Commission to act as a mediator between the Spanish central government and Catalan government, stressing that it was unacceptable that in the 21st century an independence referendum should turn into something resembling a civil war.

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE) President Guy Verhofstadt also condemned violent police response.

Human Rights Watchdog

A prominent international organization advocating for human rights, Human Rights Watch (HRW), condemned the violence in Spain at the hands of Madrid.

Catalonia has been seeking independence from Spain for years. On November 9, 2014, about 80 percent of Catalans who took part in a non-binding referendum on the region's status as part of Spain voted in favor of Catalonia becoming an independent state. However, the independence vote was ruled unconstitutional by Madrid.