The BBC has put the Spanish government's spokesman, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, against the ropes in an interview during which he was asked several times if the Spanish government intends to prevent people from voting in Sunday's referendum in Catalonia. As the BBC journalist asked questions about the right to vote, the minister took refuge in the government's legal thesis with his explanations.
Méndez de Vigo argues at the beginning of the interview that the independence would mean the departure of Catalonia from the EU. The journalist, however, recalls that Spain is a European democratic country and that, nevertheless, the Spanish government "has sent thousands of police officers to another region to stop people from voting". The minister then attempts to argue that the Catalans already vote in the autonomous, municipal, state and European elections, "in accordance with the law".
But the BBC journalist insists: "And if people try and vote in Catalonia on Sunday?" "No referendum will take place on Sunday," the minister replies. "Should people be arrested for trying to vote?" the journalist then asks. Méndez de Vigo makes a gesture of disapproval, and reiterates his argument, without answering the question. He insists that there is no procedure or administrative organisation to carry out the consultation on Sunday, and repeats that the Spanish government will only "respect the law".