World's Largest Phone Show Opens Under Catalan Secession Cloud 26 February 2018

World's largest phone show opens under Catalan secession cloud 26 February 2018

denouncing Catalonia's bid to break from Spain, just days after a banned independence referendum was marred by police violence.

"The king didn't make even the smallest gesture of empathy towards people who suffered and made a hardline speech endorsing the repressive line instead of trying to ease the conflict and bring serenity, as expected of a head of state," Colau wrote.

But she did accompany him to MWC on Monday.

Pro-independence protesters gathered in Barcelona to protest against a visit by Spain's king to the ceremony inaugurating Mobile World Congress

The world's largest phone show opened in Barcelona Monday with a visit by King Felipe VI as tensions run high just months after Catalonia's failed bid to break from Spain.

The king is a divisive figure in the northeastern region since he made a stern speech in October denouncing the secession attempt by Catalan leaders. At the height of the Catalan crisis, there was some speculation that this year's Mobile World Congress could On Sunday evening, several small pro- and anti- be delayed monarchy protests hit the Mediterranean seaside city during an inaugural ceremony for the Mobile World Congress (MWC), highlighting divisions in The failed bid to break from Spain brought huge the region over independence. uncertainty to the northeastern region, with more than 3,000 companies moving their legal During the ceremony, Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau headquarters out of Catalonia. and regional parliament speaker Roger Torrent, a separatist, refused to follow protocol and officially At the time, there had even been speculation that welcome the king. this year's MWC would be delayed with organisers saying they were "continuing to monitor On her Facebook page, Colau—who is not a developments" in Catalonia's secession crisis. separatist—said it was due to his October speech

1 / 2

Following a declaration of independence by regional leaders on October 27, Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia, sacked its separatist government, dissolved its parliament and called snap regional elections.

Separatists once again won a majority in the December polls but they are currently struggling to form a regional government, with deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in self-exile in Belgium and other separatist leaders in jail over the independence bid.

In Barcelona, independence supporters went to the airport to welcome participants in the global congress with signs reading "Shame on Europe," referring to the European Union's support for the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

© 2018 AFP APA citation: World's largest phone show opens under Catalan secession cloud (2018, February 26) retrieved 24 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2018-02-world-largest-catalan-secession- cloud.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

2 / 2