Leading US business media Bloomberg has reported Saturday's Catalan independence rally in Madrid with a double emphasis on the movement's political muscle: in the first place, its news story is headlined "Catalans take separatist campaign to Madrid in show of strength," but perhaps more telling is the detail reported within the story, that Catalan pro-independence forces have "helped topple two Spanish governments in less than a year."
Current Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, says the article, came to power last year after his predecessor Mariano Rajoy lost a confidence motion in the country's Congress. It also explains that current polls suggest the socialist leader would "win the most seats" in the general election on 28th April, but would probably fail to win a parliamentary majority. Therefore, says Bloomberg, Sánchez "may depend again on the Catalans to govern".
"Show of strength"
Bloomberg describes Saturday's demonstration, as the "biggest show of strength" by the independence movement in the Spanish capital since Catalan self-determination began to emerge as a key issue in 2012.
The article ends with some turnout figures: "120,000, according to the organizers". "Spanish police counted about 18,000."