The president of Madrid's regional government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, is to ask the Spanish government "not to authorize more pro-independence demonstrations" in the Community of Madrid. She says this should remain in force "until the violence on the streets of Catalonia ceases definitively".
Díaz Ayuso, of the right-wing Popular Party, has called for an urgent meeting with the Madrid delegation of the Spanish government after serious unrest occurred on Saturday in the centre of Madrid during a march to show solidarity with Catalonia. Problems began after the 4,000 marchers blocked traffic in the city's Gran Vía thoroughfare, and police charges took place. In the end, 20 people were injured, a dozen arrests were made and there was also property damage.
This Sunday, the Madrid regional president responded to the events saying she wants to know the criteria and reasons used to authorize the rally.
Translation:
"I ask the Madrid Delegation of the Government not to authorize pro-independence demonstrations like yesterday's, when there is a well-founded risk of disturbances to public order. Based on Law 9/1983, these authorizations must be restricted. Madrid is not what we saw tonight."— Isabel Díaz Ayuso
Díaz Ayuso, who offered her support and recognition to the police wounded in the incidents, added that she will also ask the Spanish government to "limit the authorizations" for future rallies.
"The authorization of any type of extremist protest, whatever it may be, must be very tight, to avoid disturbances and violence," she said, adding that in the law, "the need to maintain order has priority over the right to assembly". As well, in the case of protests arising from the Supreme Court's heavy sentences for the Catalan pro-independence leaders, she considers that they should not be authorized because they are in support of "an attempted coup".
Stating that the "type of images" seen in Madrid on Saturday "are very beneficial to the independence movement," Díaz Ayuso asserted that Spain is "a safe and democratic country that looks after the freedom and integrity of all its citizens" .
Díaz Ayuso criticized Spain's acting Socialist-led government, considering that it has abandoned its responsibility in law and order matters and that "it has been totally overwhelmed by events" since the Supreme Court announcement last Monday.