The ombudsman is, by definition, an uncomfortable person. Their role is difficult and their reports tend to be always very juicy. If the ombudsman is Rafael Ribó, a politician with amply demonstrated experience as well as a notable orator, their speeches don't tend to leave anyone indifferent. This Wednesday, he went to the Catalan Parliament to present his report on "The violation of fundamental rights and public freedoms on the occasion of the penal reaction to the 1st October [day of the referendum] and the application of article 155 of the Constitution". A long title for a report which, at the moment of truth, ended up being a judgement on the police actions during the referendum, which it strongly criticised, on the plenary sessions in the Catalan chamber on 6th and 7th September 2017 which approved the transition laws, which he also disagreed with, and on the irregularities committed with the application of article 155 of the Constitution.
But if something will go down in history from this speech, without doubt, it's his evaluation of the existence of political prisoners in the Spanish state and his hard-hitting statement that "in the European continent there are parliamentarians imprisoned in Turkey and Spain, they're political prisoners", to repeat the need for their release. The unionist benches don't like such comparisons and their reaction didn't take time in coming: they want him to resign at least and, at best, that this should be accompanied by his disavowal by the international bodies he depends on to carry out his work, starting with the 82 European ombudsmen. But Ribó is far from being left out to dry. The pro-independence majority acknowledge his work and the thing that most bothered Ciudadanos, PSC and PP is clear. Perhaps there aren't political prisoners? Perhaps members of the Catalan government and social leaders of the independence movement haven't spent more than a year in pretrial detention without bail?
The truth hurts and, as the trial approaches, the situation will be ever less comfortable for the pro-union parties. The Catalan Socialist leader, Miquel Iceta, professional polemicist, found himself overwhelmed this Wednesday by the president of Catalonia, Quim Torra, when he rebuked his collusion with Cs and PP on article 155 and his distance from the problem of the prisoners. "What have you done since they've been in prison?", he said, before accusing him of cynicism: "You've left the hemicycle and the cynicism you're carrying is probably currently dripping down the grand staircase". A tense altercation now it's been confirmed that, at the moment of truth, the Socialist government washes it hands, wants the prisoners in prison, the exiles abroad and to extend its legislature on the basis of TV adverts. It's how it gets along best. With the "I would approve an increase to the minimum wage if you'd approve my budget"... and hiding the most important thing: that it could approve it by executive order in this Thursday's cabinet meeting.
Ah, no. This Thursday, it's the turn of modifying mortgage legislation so that its the banks that pay the tax. A solemn announcement in the Moncloa government palace to reduce public irritation. Another ad to bring people in: does anyone believe that the banks will end up paying it? Let's be serious about this. That said, let the judges keep doing their thing, they're essential to combat the Catalan independence movement. Flags and wallets.