Protesters surround the Catalan parliament. M.M.

Doctors and firemen surrounded the Catalan regional parliament on Wednesday to demand Catalan regional premier Quim Torra reverse budget cuts introduced during the financial crisis.

Catalan family doctors want a minimum of 12 minutes for each consult and no more than 28 consults a day

The protesters waved placards and used plastic horns, whistles and megaphones to mount a noisy protest and make their demands heard. The demonstrators were held back by the Catalan regional police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, who clashed with the firemen. The firefighters are calling for more personnel, resources and better salaries.

Family doctors in Catalonia are also demanding more resources and better working conditions.This is the third day of industrial action for the group. The union Doctors of Catalonia (MT) began a strike on Monday, claiming the state of the region’s primary healthcare sector is “unsustainable.” On the first day of the strike, hundreds of doctors blocked Barcelona’s Gran Via avenue and occupied the headquarters of the Catalan Health Institute (ICS), the public entity that manages 80% of primary healthcare services. On Tuesday, more than a thousand people protested outside the Health Department against the “precariousness” of the sector, which lost nearly a thousand doctors during the cutbacks and, according to MC, only has 30% of its former purchasing power.

ampliar foto Main entrance to Pompeu Fabra University in Poblenou. grego casanova

The ICS has offered to immediately incorporate 200 doctors to help relieve the sector’s urgent needs. While the institute has the budget to cover this measure, it admits there is not enough staff to fill the places and is asking doctors to work extra remunerated hours. The MC has rejected the offer. The union wants a minimum of 12 minutes to be guaranteed for each patient visit and no more than 28 visits a day – demands the ICS has not accepted.

“We are doing everything we can to address their demands. Hopefully today we will find a solution,” said Torra on Tuesday.

But no solution was found and on Wednesday the family doctors entered their third day of stoppages. This time they were joined by university students who stopped classes to call for academic fees – which rose by 67% during the financial crisis – to be reduced by 30%.

University protesters at UAB. Cristóbal Castro

The Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) suspended classes in the Ciutadella campus in Barcelona in response to the strike, citing security reasons. The University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) continued classes but asked professors not to hold exams or other activities that would be graded. Students at UAB blocked access to the Bellaterra campus early Wednesday morning, setting up barricades with chairs, tables and trash cans at each of the entry points.

The strike, organized by the Catalan Student Union (SEPC), is set to continue on Thursday. University teaching and research staff have called their own strike on Thursday to support the students’ demand to reduce academic fees. Students and teachers will gather outside the University of Barcelona square for a demonstration at midday.

English version by Melissa Kitson.</s>Nurses, Firefighters, Teachers, Students and Civil Servants joined Doctors on strike in the Spanish Region of Catalonia on Thursday, protesting budget cuts which they alleged hindered their jobs properly.

Protests were noted in Barcelona, Tarragona and Girona, among others.

The strikers say the government needs to undo austerity measures introduced in 2011 to make better pay and working conditions possible.

Doctors, who have already been on strike for four days, say they need to be able to have more time to work with their patients.

Eva Granados, a spokesperson for the Socialists, noted the “great social protest’’ in the region and pointed out that the sitting government had focused its energies on seceding from Spain.

Catalonian leader Quim Torra has not yet made a comment.

“This silence is scandalous. The government has gone missing,’’ said Granados.</s>Doctors, nurses, students, teachers and civil servants went on strike in Catalonia Thursday, asking the Spanish region's government to end spending cuts imposed during the crisis after years of seeking independence.

Thousands protested in Barcelona -- 8,000 according to police and 25,000 according to unions -- against the government led by Quim Torra, whom many regard as giving priority to splitting from Spain rather than day-to-day management of the region.

"We have a government that doesn't govern, which only focuses on independence and does nothing to resolve the social situation," said Josep Lluis Casamitjana, a 62-year-old doctor, in the protest.

"The independence process has been a big smoke screen, but bad management and spending cuts are still here," said Rafael Castillo, a 67-year-old retiree.

In 2010 during the country's economic crisis, Catalonia was a pioneer in implementing drastic austerity measures which were later extended to the rest of Spain.

For two years, people took to the streets to protest but in 2012 the issue took a back seat when then regional president Artur Mas took on the pro-independence cause.

This week austerity protests returned with a five-day strike by doctors, another two-day stoppage by students and teachers, partial strikes by civil servants and a firefighters' protest on Wednesday that ended with police charges.

Protesters want an increase in the number of health and education workers and a drop in university fees -- the highest in Spain.

They also want authorities to give back bonuses for civil servants that were suspended between 2012 and 2014, which has already been done in other regions.

But this week, a spokesman for Torra's pro-independence party Together for Catalonia played down the importance of the protests and said the solution lay in "fleeing the (Spanish) state."

"We're distracting ourselves with things that aren't essential," Eduard Pujol said Tuesday in comments that drew criticism.

Torra on Thursday gathered much of his executive to discuss the strikes which come at a time when the regional budget for 2019 is being drawn up.

"The government is well aware of the efforts made by public workers and is working to give them a response," regional vice-president Pere Aragones said.</s>BARCELONA, Nov 30 — Doctors, nurses, students, teachers and civil servants went on strike in Catalonia yesterday, asking the Spanish region’s government to end spending cuts imposed during the crisis after years of seeking independence.

Thousands protested in Barcelona — 8,000 according to police and 25,000 according to unions — against the government led by Quim Torra, whom many regard as giving priority to splitting from Spain rather than day-to-day management of the region.

“We have a government that doesn’t govern, which only focuses on independence and does nothing to resolve the social situation,” said Josep Lluis Casamitjana, a 62-year-old doctor, in the protest.

“The independence process has been a big smoke screen, but bad management and spending cuts are still here,” said Rafael Castillo, a 67-year-old retiree.

In 2010 during the country’s economic crisis, Catalonia was a pioneer in implementing drastic austerity measures which were later extended to the rest of Spain.

For two years, people took to the streets to protest but in 2012 the issue took a back seat when then regional president Artur Mas took on the pro-independence cause.

This week austerity protests returned with a five-day strike by doctors, another two-day stoppage by students and teachers, partial strikes by civil servants and a firefighters’ protest on Wednesday that ended with police charges.

Protesters want an increase in the number of health and education workers and a drop in university fees — the highest in Spain.

They also want authorities to give back bonuses for civil servants that were suspended between 2012 and 2014, which has already been done in other regions.

But this week, a spokesman for Torra’s pro-independence party Together for Catalonia played down the importance of the protests and said the solution lay in “fleeing the (Spanish) state.”

“We’re distracting ourselves with things that aren’t essential,” Eduard Pujol said Tuesday in comments that drew criticism.

Torra yesterday gathered much of his executive to discuss the strikes which come at a time when the regional budget for 2019 is being drawn up.

After that, he recognised that “the demands expressed on the streets” were “just, logical, necessary and opportune. And above all, legitimate,” according to a regional government statement.

But he largely blamed the central government for the situation, pointing out for instance that Catalonia paid a lot in taxes.

One of the major complaints among separatists is that Catalonia pays more to the central government than it receives in central spending.

He added the only solution was “an independent republic that takes responsibility for its acts and can serve with efficiency and quality the citizens who have created it”. — AFP</s>Baku. 2 October. REPORT.AZ/ Over the past week, the world community has witnessed two "referendums" on “independence”. One of them is Iraq, which is partly occupied by ISIS and trying to clear extremists in the land with the help of an international coalition, led by the United States. "Voting", initiated by the local government in northern Iraq, has not been officially recognized by Baghdad, Turkey, Iran, the U.S., UK, Russia, France, the European Union and others, calling it "illegitimate, contrary to the Iraqi constitution”. This "referendum" was supported only by Israel. However, this does not mean the recognition of the "independence" of the Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq.

Another "political action" was held in EU member, Kingdom of Spain. Along with combating terrorism, Spain has suffered from this crime committed internationally.

The central government considers this "referendum" illegal. Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy said the results of this "action" would be abolished in the Constitutional Court. Carles Puigdemont, the head of Catalonia's pro-sovereignty government, has signed a law on independence "on the event”.

The Catalonia government says more than 90 percent of voters voted for independence, while official Madrid even said the results were falsified.

The referendum in Catalonia has not been calm. 12 police officers were injured, more than 800 participants were detained, majority were injured.

No matter how bitter and ridiculous, such observers use the name of democracy, as a rule, violate international law and the laws of the country.

It is also a well-known fact that democracy is not a tool to violate country laws and ignore international law.

The U.S. and the EU have not yet commented on the results of “referendum”. Two days before action Chairman of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, stated: "The referendum in Spain is against Spanish Constitution and European law. Discussion of the matter between the Spanish government and the Catalonian government at the political level would be the best solution. This talk is important for Spain. This is an internal problem of Spain not Europe”.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, made a distinct statement on September 14, saying: "If Catalonia achieves independent, we will respect this option. However, Catalonia can not be a member of the European Union on the eve of Independence”.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan commented on the "independence referendum" held in Catalonia, Spain. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Republic of Azerbaijan respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders of the Kingdom of Spain: "We are in favor of a peaceful settlement of the current situation within Spanish Constitution and laws."

It is not excluded that during the day and after the referendum political relations will be expressed.

Catalonia residents hold this action for the first time. This autonomous province is located in the northeastern part of Spain, on the Iberian Peninsula. The official name is Catalonia Autonomous Province. Territory of the region is 32 thousand 114 sq. km. The center of the state is the city of Barcelona. The official languages of the Catalonia are Catalan, Spanish and Oceania. The province's population is 7 million 512 thousand 381 people.

Historical Catalonia consists of autonomous provinces in Spain and the Eastern Pyrénées Department in France. In addition, Catalonians called territories of France joined the Province of Catalonia the Northern Catalonia.

Notably, Eucalyptus, alongside Spain, live in the southwest of France (in the western part of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department, Labourd, Soule and Lower Navarre).

Corsica is located north of the Mediterranean Sea. The territory of this island is 8.7 thousand square kilometers. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in the city of Ajaccio, capital of Corsica. Different figures mentioned about their number: From 600 to 2.8 million in Spain, from 75 to 250 thousand people in France, 6.9 thousand in the U.S., 20 thousand people in Mexico and so on speak Basque. Spanish and French languages are widely used among them.

The Flemish people in Belgium also said they wanted to get out of this monarchy. That's why a few years ago there was a government crisis in Belgium.

By the way, the flemish live in 5 northern provinces of Belgium. Their area of land is 13 thousand 522 square km. This means 44.29 percent of Belgium territory. Five million flemish live in the kingdom. There are 250 thousand flamands in north of France. According to the data, the total number of Flemish people is 7.5 mln.

Those who want to be independent are citizens of the leading European states. The worst and ridiculous thing is that these states support the separatist tendencies in other countries.

The most obvious example of this is the issue of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Spain, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and others have condemned the occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan and have not imposed any sanctions against separatists yet. Statements from this and other similar states sound like this, "Protect your ceasefire, negotiate".

By means of this type of silence world's leading powers support separatist movement internationally.

Another example. In the Middle East this process carried out with gun. Separators are armed with European and Western powers. They are also given instructions in the countries of this part of the world.

Unfortunately, these two factors are not respected. The West, European Union sees the fruit of its policy pursued in the Middle East, South Caucasus its support to separatism in Spain. In other words, West tears the Kingdom of Spain apart. It is not excluded that this process will move to other European countries in the future.

Therefore, it is not ruled out that new states will emerge not in Asia, Africa and America, but in Europe, and the political map of the world will change.

As the proverb says: “As you sow, so shall you reap”.

Thus, the states established in Europe as a result of the two world wars in the twentieth century may break down.</s>Protesters surrounded the Catalan regional parliament in Barcelona on Wednesday, November 30, for a third day of protests over budget cuts and labor improvements. This footage shows scenes from outside the parliament. Demonstrators can be seen holding flares that are sending smoke into the air. According to El Pais, doctors and firefighters make up the protesting groups, with the doctors calling for increased resources and the firefighters asking for more personnel. The union Doctors of Catalonia has been on strike since Monday. Credit: Marta Belles Abad/Catalunya Radio & Catalunya Informacio via Storyful</s>Protesters surrounded the Catalan regional parliament in Barcelona on Wednesday, November 28, for a third day of protests over budget cuts and labor improvements. This footage shows various scenes from outside the parliament. Demonstrators can be seen holding flares, burning effigies and waving placards. According to El Pais, doctors and firefighters make up the protesting groups, with the doctors calling for increased resources and the firefighters asking for more personnel. The union Doctors of Catalonia has been on strike since Monday. Credit: Ric_one1 via Storyful</s>BARCELONA, Spain — Thousands of Catalan civil servants have joined strikes and ongoing protests by students and health workers to demand more funding and better working conditions.

Barcelona police say that 8,000 have joined a downtown march all the way to the regional parliament in the city. Thursday’s strike paralyzed many public services in the northeastern Spanish region, leaving some schools and universities empty.

Workers and student unions say that austerity measures implemented at the height of the 2008 financial crisis haven’t been reverted despite five years of continued economic growth. Catalan authorities blame the cuts on a lack of funding from central authorities.

A similar protest on Wednesday by fire and health workers — the latter on their fourth day of consecutive strike — ended in clashes with anti-riot police.
Doctors and firefighters strike in Catalonia, Spain, over budget cuts, ending with clashes between demonstrators and Mossos d'Esquadra at the doors of Catalan Parliament. Students and teachers start a two-day strike.