The Dutch journalist Marcel Haenen who yesterday complained that the head of the Mossos (Catalan police), Josep Lluís Trapero, spoke in Catalan during a press conference has stuck up for his actions through his Twitter profile.
In his first tweet on the subject, he explains that the incident started when he asked "the Spanish authorities to speak in a way that the foreign press could follow", noting that Trapero's multilingual response ("Bueno pues molt bé pues adiós", "good well great so bye") has become a hastag.
Heb nu eigen hashtag in Catalonië. Ik vroeg autoriteiten Spaans te praten zodat ook buitenlandse pers kon volgen #BuenoPuesMoltBéPuesAdiós pic.twitter.com/UaxkpZam3Y
— Marcel Haenen (@MarcelHaenen) 22 d’agost de 2017
He doesn't explain, however, that his reaction when Trapero said that he was replying in whichever language the questions were asked in was to leave the press room.
Major Josep Lluís Trapero, PRESENTE: pic.twitter.com/zXEEcT5NA0
— Bernat Castro (@Berlustinho) 21 d’agost de 2017
Haenen's second tweet on the topic was in response to a series of tweets by journalist Luis del Pino. In a long thread, the Spanish journalist explains, among other reflections, that "the head of the Mossos told a foreign journalist that he didn't give a damn that he was leaving"; that the foreign press "doesn't care about linguistic problems"; that it's "frustrating and pathetic" for them when the Catalan government "wastes time" translating "NEEDLESSLY"; and that the Catalan government sent a message that it's capable of using "EVEN" an attack as a tool for "political propaganda". The Dutchman responded to these thoughts with "That's it. Very good"
1) Ayer, la Generalidad protagonizó un enfrentamiento con un periodista extranjero por el tema del idioma utilizado en las ruedas de prensa
— Luis del Pino (@ldpsincomplejos) 22 d’agost de 2017
Asi es. Muy bien. Saludos cordiales del extranjero.@ldpsincomplejos @lapaseata https://t.co/Cl7KNDARmN
— Marcel Haenen (@MarcelHaenen) 22 d’agost de 2017