"We have to support the response of the democratic state of Spain." With these words, the former French prime minister, Manuel Valls, has shown his intention to continue calling out in favour of Mariano Rajoy's government and stay beside its plan to move ahead with the application of article 155, and has asked for respect for the Constitution for "Catalonia, for Spain and for Europe."
Nous devons soutenir la réponse de l'Etat démocratique espagnol.Hem de apoyar la resposta de l'Estat democràtic de #Espanya
— Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) 22 of October 2017
Per #Catalunya.Para #España.Pour l'#Europe.Respect de la Constitution,dialogue & respect de chacun,élections en Catalogne,unité de l'Espagne
— Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) 22 of October 2017
Faced with this, his sister, Giovanna Valls, has reproached him, stating that the 155 "is not democratic" because, as has been questioned, "since when has such a beast that ends liberties [been democratic]".
Per Deu prou! Per l'avi Magí! No es democràtic ni ho es la 155. Des de quan s'ha vist una cosa tant bèstia com la cessar les llibertats.
— Giovanna Valls (@GiovannaValls) 22 of October 2017
Before this, Valls had praised the editorial of El País, entitled, "The democratic state responds", which endorsed the Spanish government's action with the support of the PSOE and Cs to propose to the Senate the application of 155, stating that "a democracy has to apply the democracy".
Grand éditorial de @el_pais à propos de la crise catalane:"l'État démocratique répond"..Oui une démocratie doit appliquer l'État de droit
— Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) 22 of October 2017
On Saturday he already wrote that "as French and Europeans we cannot accept the violation of a democratic Constitution or the dismemberment of an EU state".
Comme Français et Européens nous ne pouvons pas accepter la violation d'une Constitution démocratique et le démembrement d'un Etat de l'UE
— Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) 21 of October 2017
Precisely for that reason, and "for respect to the Constitution", he asked for elections in Catalonia.
Seuls le respect de la Constitution,le dialogue entre les forces politiques et des élections en Catalogne permettront de sortir de la crise
— Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) 21 of October 2017
Already last week, Valls regretted that Europe had not given more support to Rajoy, and reproached the European institutions not to have done anything before the referendum of 1st October.