Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 18:57, 5 May 2018

Societat Civil Catalana

File:Parlamentos-manifestacion-Societat-Civil-Catalana EDIIMA20171008 0395 4.jpgSpeakers during October 8th 2017 demonstration. From left to right: Alberto Fernández Díaz, Xavier García Albiol, Albert Rivera, Inés Arrimadas, Mario Vargas Llosa and Josep Borrell.
Formation	April 7, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-04-07)
Type	NGO
Location	Carrer Còrsega 270, 3r 5ª, Barcelona
Area served	Catalonia
Official languages	Catalan, spanish
President	José Rosiñol
Website	Official website

Societat Civil Catalana ("Catalan Civil Society", SCC by its Catalan acronym) is a Catalan civic society organization opposing the independence of Catalonia from Spain.

In October 2017, it mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in Barcelona demonstrationsagainst the Catalan government and the catalan declaration of independence with speeches delivered by Francisco Frutos, Josep Borrell and Mario Vargas Llosa.

Its current president is José Rosiñol, an expert in negotiation and conflicts resolutionOther senior representatives are vice-presidents Miriam Tey, Álex Ramos and José Domingo. SCC has 4 subdivisions with focus in different social areas: Economy, Education, Youth and Health.

In October 2014 it organized its first big event, gathering thousands of demonstrators in Barcelona against independence. Short after, in January 2015, Societat Civil Catalana received from the European Parliament the European Citizen's Prize.

More recently in January 2018 SCC received from Ximo Puig, President of the government of Valencia (Generalitat Valenciana). the Manuel Broseta Foundation award to co-existence.

On April 2018 SCC granted a recognition prize to concord and common sense to Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament, and Manuel Valls, former French Prime Minister.

Societat Civil Catalana has delegations in Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat and Tarragona.

Although this organisation can not be qualified as far-right, far-right associations have attended some of their events and demonstrations, alongside socialists, communists, liberals, conservatives and pensionists.

Creation

The organization was created in April 7th 2014. In the launching event, SCC indicated that its goal is to be a transversal platform against separatism. In April 23th of the same year SCC had its official presentation to the public at the Victoria Theater in Barcelona. Susana Beltrán, member of Citizens, was the host of the event and Bosch, Domingo and Coll delivered the keynote speeches. Josep Rosiñol was the moderator and also member of the provisional executive office. Other members from the provisional executive office who also attended the act were Isabel Pòrcel, Ana María Lindin and Ferran Brunet. The event also had the presence of affiliates and politicians from PSC, PP, Citizens , UPyD, Vox, the delegation of the Francisco Franco National Foundation and members from Republican Social Movement.

Structure

Its board of directors includes representatives which sometime in their past belonged to one of the three major constitutionalist Catalan political parties that oppose independence: The Socialists' Party of Catalonia, People's Party of Catalonia and Citizens. Many of them come from far-right organisation Somatemps and other 51 associations including their first president, Josep Ramon Bosch.

The first president of the final executive board was Josep Ramon Bosch. Bosch was followed by Rafael Arenas. Mariano Gomà replaced Rafael Arenas. Susana Beltrán left the organization to be elected member of Catalan parliament in representation of Citizens. Eventually, José Rosiñol became president of SCC. Previously he was adviser of SCC. Other senior representatives are Miriam Tey (vice-president), Álex Ramos (vice-president) and José Domingo (adviser). Bosch left SCC while Mariano Gomà was relegated to adviser.

Awards

• In November 2014, SCC received from the European Parliament the European Citizen's Prize. The prize is awarded to "projects and initiatives that facilitate cross-border cooperation or promote mutual understanding within the EU." SCC was nominated by the Catalan People's Party MEP Santiago Fisas.

• In January 2018 SCC received from Ximo Puig, president of the government of Valencia (Generalitat Valenciana), the Manuel Broseta Foundation Award to Co-existence without the presence of Compromís and We Can. Monica Oltra stated that the award does not represent any institution from Valencian Community.

Actions against Catalan separatism

Societat Civil Catalana has been the organizer of multiple demonstrations and rallies in Barcelona:

• In October 12th 2014 (Día de la Hispanidad) it organized its first big event, gathering 40,000 demonstrators in Barcelona against independence, according to the local police spokesman.
• In October 8th 2017, it mobilized hundreds of thousands of people (350.000 according to local police chief of press, more than 1 million according to the organization itself) in a demonstration at Barcelona protesting against the pro-independence Catalan government and the Catalan declaration of independence. Former EU Parliament speaker Josep Borrell and Nobel Award Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa delivered closing speeches at the demonstration.
• In October 12th 2017, a total of 65,000 people attended to a demonstration call made by SCC.
• In October 28th 2017, a thousand people march in the streets of Barcelona. Manifesto speakers were Josep Borrell and Francisco Frutos, former leader of the Spanish Communist Party.
• In March 18th 2018, 7,000 people were present in another demonstration. In this demonstration, former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls delivered the closing speech.

SCC demonstration calls have received cross-party support from Catalonia's Popular Party, PSC and Citizens and it is regarded by some as the leading pro-union platforms in Catalonia along with the movement for Tabarnia.

SCC gave public support to a demonstration of the platform Tabarnia along with Vox and PxC.

In the first months of 2018 SCC started a round of meetings with Spanish politicians and political parties to discuss how to manage the Catalan independence movement in the context of the Spanish constitutional crisis. SCC established conversations with unionist political party Cs (Citizens) and with the president of the government of Spain, Mariano Rajoy (president of People's Party). The organization also met with Susana Díaz, president of Andalusia and PSOE-A, and with Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of Galicia and galician People's Party. Political parties En Marea and BNG were left out.In April , representatives of SCC met the leader of the Spanish socialist party PSOE Pedro Sanchez.

Finances

Societat Civil Catalana has been accused by Javier Barraycoa, former member of SCC, founder of Somatemps and its current adviser, of receiving funds from the central government of Spain in order to organize the demonstrations of the 8th and 12th of October 2017. Additionally, it has been confirmed that RENFE subsidized 50% of the cost of 245 train tickets for the Diada public act of SCC in September 11th 2014 in Tarragona. Josep Alsina from Somatemps reported that SCC receives generous donations through Joan Boscà Foundation to which many important businesses give money.

Separatist and far-left activist, photographer Jordi Borràs found that the balance sheet presented by SCC lacks transparency. With only 75 members and 4,000 collaborators SCC managed to gather 1 million euros in 2014. The members only account for 1.5% of money contributions. Another 1.5% comes from gathering posts and urns. The rest, 97%, comes from private donations. Félix Revuelta, founder and principal stokeholder of Naturhouse, stated that he and many other businessmen give support to SCC.

Controversies

Separatist and far-left activist, photographer and "one-book" author Jordi Borràs argues in his book that Societat Civil Catalana shares a close relationship with far-right organizations. This section is a summary of his book.

• Some members of SCC coming from Somatemps and other 51 associations. Individual members of SCC have attended or taken part in events related to organizations and political parties from the far-right like Somatemps, PxC, Vox, National Francisco Franco Foundation, National Democracy and Republican Social Movement.

• SCC has maintained meetings in which Somatemps members participated. Somatemps showed a photograph in which José Rosiñol, Ferran Brunet, Susana Beltrán, José Domingo, Javier Barraycoa, Francesc Moreno and Clemente Polo appear in a meeting of SCC.
• The second president of SCC, Josep Ramon Bosch, is a founder of the far-right platform Somatemps. And he was also the president of Somatemps. Bosch left SCC shortly after a complaint which stated he insulted and threatened catalan separatists. The complaint was finally archived because the imputed felonies prescribed. Involved in the same timeline were publications of fascist videos with his voice under a false Facebook account which he owned. Bosch has also participated in acts of the Francisco Franco National Foundation. SCC claimed he was accompanying his father.

References

1. "Premi a l'anticatalanisme". El Temps (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-05-03.
2. Jones, Sam; Burgen, Stephen (2017-10-08). "'We have to raise our voices' – Catalans rally to the pro-unity cause". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
3. ^ Món, El. "José Rosiñol, nou president de Societat Civil Catalana". El Món. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
4. ^ "José Rosiñol releva a Mariano Gomà como presidente de Societat Civil Catalana". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
5. "Puig entrega el lunes el premio Broseta a Societat Civil Catalana". www.efe.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-05-05.
6. "Tajani y Valls reciben el premio "al seny" de Societat Civil Catalana". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
7. "Societat Civil Catalana constituye la Junta local de Barcelona ciudad - El Catalán". El Catalán (in European Spanish). 2018-03-16. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2018-03-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
8. "Premi a l'anticatalanisme". El Temps (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-05-03.
9. ^ "Jordi Borràs: 'El nucli fundador de Societat Civil Catalana és Somatemps, organització d'extrema dreta'". VilaWeb.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-04-06.
10. ^ "Diccionari de l'extrema dreta a Catalunya, de la A a la Z". Crític (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-04-06.
11. ^ "Felicitaciones a Sociedad Civil Catalana por su nuevo Presidente: José Rosiñol" (in European Spanish). 2017-11-07. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2018-04-08. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2018-04-08 suggested (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
12. ^ "Sociedad Civil Catalana llena en su presentación en Barcelona". Cronica global (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
13. ^ "Els vincles ocults de l'extrema dreta amb Societat Civil Catalana". Crític (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-04-01.
14. "Nace 'Societat Civil Catalana"". Cronica global (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
15. "Quién está detrás de las asociaciones que han sacado a la calle a miles de ciudadanos por España y por Catalunya" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
16. "Quién está detrás de las asociaciones que han sacado a la calle a miles de ciudadanos por España y por Catalunya" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
17. "Societat Civil Catalana busca en Susana Díaz su primer apoyo institucional fuera de Catalunya". Público (in European Spanish). 31 January 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
18. "Jordi Borràs: 'El nucli fundador de Societat Civil Catalana és Somatemps, organització d'extrema dreta'". VilaWeb.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-04-06.
19. "Diccionari de l'extrema dreta a Catalunya, de la A a la Z". Crític (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-04-06.
20. "L'arquitecte Mariano Gomà, nou president de Societat Civil Catalana". Ara.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
21. ""Yo soy español, español, español..."". El Temps (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
22. "Societat Civil Catalana: los complejos equilibrios entre PSC, PP y C's". Cronica global (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
23. "Objetivos de Societat Civil Catalana". Societat Civil Catalana. 2018-04-01. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2018-04-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
24. "Communication of the European Parliament concerning the European Citizen's Prize". eur-lex.europa.eu. C 457/4. European Union. 2014-11-19. Retrieved 2018-03-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
25. "European Citizen's Prize". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
26. "El Parlamento Europeo galardona a Sociedad Civil Catalana con el Premio Ciudadano Europeo 2014". Cronica global (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-20.
27. Pérez, Claudi (2014-11-19). "El Parlamento Europeo premia a Sociedad Civil Catalana". EL PAÍS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-20.
28. "Puig entrega el lunes el premio Broseta a Societat Civil Catalana". www.efe.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-02-02.
29. "Compromís planta Ximo Puig en el lliurament del Premi a la Convivència a SCC". VilaWeb.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
30. Món, El. "Ximo Puig lliura el Premi Broseta a SCC sense Compromís ni Podemos". El Món. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
31. Barcelona, AFP in (2014-10-12). "Thousands rally in Barcelona against Catalonian independence". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
32. "Miles de personas participan en la manifestación del 12O en plaza Catalunya en Barcelona". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
33. "Huge demonstration against Catalan independence in Barcelona". News.sky.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
34. Piñol, Àngels (2017-10-08). "Massive march in Barcelona in favor of the Constitution and the unity of Spain". El País. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
35. Piñol, Àngels (2017-10-09). "Masiva manifestación en Barcelona a favor de la Constitución y la unidad de España". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
36. "Guardia Urbana cifra en 65.000 personas la asistencia a manifestación de SCC". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
37. Graham-Harrison, Emma; Burgen, Stephen (2017-10-29). "'We are all Catalonia' march brings thousands out on Barcelona's streets". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
38. Regué, Júlia (2017-10-29). "El 'no' a la independencia vuelve a mostrar músculo en Barcelona". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
39. "El PCE desautoriza a Paco Frutos tras su intervención en la manifestación por la unidad de España". Hazte socio de eldiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
40. "El PCE desautoriza a Paco Frutos tras intervenir en la manifestación por la unidad de España – HuelvaHoy.com" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
41. Press, Europa (2018-03-18). "Unas 7.000 personas participan en la manifestación de SCC en Barcelona, según la Guardia Urbana". europapress.es (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-19.
42. EFE (2018-03-18). "Vídeo: El discurso completo de Manuel Valls en Barcelona". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
43. Álvarez, Pilar; Gálvez, José María Jiménez (2017-10-29). "Hundreds of thousands take to streets in defense of Spanish unity". El País. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
44. Burgen, Stephen (2017-10-07). "Pro-unity Catalans take to the streets to condemn 'selfish revolution'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
45. "Los 9 responsables de la derrota del procés separatista". El Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
46. ^ "Ciudadanos se aleja de Tabarnia: el partido que dio cancha a la "broma" ahora se desmarca". eldiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
47. "Societat Civil Catalana secunda a Tabarnia en la manifestación del 25 de febrero". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
48. "Vox leaders supporting Tabarnia demonstration". VOX Noticias.
49. "¿Qué 'influencers' ha retratado el fenómeno Tabarnia?". 2018-01-19. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2018-04-01. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2018-03-31 suggested (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
50. "PxC - Tabàrnia ja és aquí! PxC convidada a la seva primera manifestació". www.plataforma.cat. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2018-03-31. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2018-03-31 suggested (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
51. Món, El. "Societat Civil Catalana es reuneix amb Rajoy aquest dijous". El Món. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
52. Món, El. "Rivera apressa Rajoy perquè faci efectiu "el canvi de model educatiu català"". El Món. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
53. "Sociedad Civil Catalana invita a Susana Díaz a su celebración de Sant Jordi". www.efe.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
54. "Societat Civil Catalana busca en Susana Díaz su primer apoyo institucional fuera de Catalunya" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
55. Coruña, La Opinión de A. "Societat Civil Catalana expone a Feijóo, PP y PSOE su rechazo al independentismo". Retrieved 2018-03-30.
56. "Pedro Sánchez intercederá ante UGT y CC.OO. para que reciban a Societat Civil". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
57. Món, El. "El Món | SCC nega que Javier Barraycoa sigui soci fundador de l'entitat | Política". El Món. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
58. Barraycoa, Javier (2014-04-22). "Emerge la Cataluña silenciada". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-01. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
59. Món, El. "Un dirigent de Somatemps denuncia finançament de Madrid per a manifestacions de SCC". El Món. Retrieved 2018-03-29. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
60. "Somatemps asegura que el gobierno español financió manifestaciones unionistas". ElNacional.cat. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
61. ^ "La oscura financiación de la asociación antisoberanista Societat Civil Catalana" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
62. "Sobre Tabarnia y Sociedad Civil Catalana — La Tribuna de Cartagena". La Tribuna de Cartagena (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2018-04-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
63. ^ NacióDigital. "Societat Civil reconeix que Bosch va assistir a un acte de la Fundació Franco" (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-31.
64. ^ "Jordi Borràs posa en evidència José Domingo, secretari de SCC". VilaWeb.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
65. ^ Cazorla, Bertran (2014-11-08). "Exposen una revista negacionista en un centre cívic de Barcelona durant un acte de Somatemps". Directa (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
66. "Quién está detrás de las asociaciones que han sacado a la calle a miles de ciudadanos por España y por Catalunya" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
67. ^ ""Yo soy español, español, español..."". El Temps (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
68. Món, El. "SCC convoca una manifestació en defensa de la bandera espanyola a Sabadell". El Món. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
69. "Querella contra el president de Societat Civil per amenaces". Ara.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
70. "Societat Civil Catalana destituye a su presidente tras el escándalo de los insultos". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2018-04-06. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
71. BARCELONA, EL PERIÓDICO / (2017-01-11). "Archivada la causa contra el expresidente de Societat Civil Catalana". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
72. NacióManresa. "Josep Ramon Bosch també va penjar vídeos feixistes a un canal de Youtube" (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
73. "Un fundador de SCC va cridar lemes franquistes davant de la seu d'ERC durant una concentració ultra". El Temps (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-28.
74. ^ "Miriam Tey, editora de 'Todas putas', cuñada de Moragas y rostro de Sociedad Civil Catalana" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2018-03-29.
75. País, Ediciones El (2003-05-20). "Míriam Tey afirma que el libro 'Todas putas' "denuncia la violación desde la ficción"". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
76. ^ "Objetivos de Societat Civil Catalana". Societat Civil Catalana. 2018-04-01. Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2018-04-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
77. "Els vincles ocults de l'extrema dreta amb Societat Civil Catalana". Crític (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-04-01.
78. BARCELONA, EL PERIÓDICO / (2016-10-25). "Societat Civil Catalana releva a Rafael Arenas y Joaquim Coll al frente de la entidad". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-06.
79. Coll, Joaquim (2016-06-17). "Tribuna | El precio de la discrepancia". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
80. Clarà, Joan B. Culla i (2016-06-02). "Opinió | Legionaris a vèncer". EL PAÍS (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-20.
81. Clarà, Joan B. Culla i (2016-06-23). "Opinió | Maccarthisme". EL PAÍS (in Catalan). Retrieved 2018-03-20.
82. del Pueblo, Las Voces (2014-07-26). "Orella considera de "suicida" no responder con medidas contundentes y definitivas a la amenaza separatista en Cataluña". Las Voces del Pueblo. Archived from the original on 2018-04-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
83. del Pueblo, Las Voces (2014-07-26). "Somatemps - SOMATEMPS (HISTORIADORES DEBATEN SOBRE "EL FUTURO DE CATALUÑA")". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2017-09-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
84. "Jáuregui y Fisas han sido claves para que Sociedad Civil Catalana recibiera el premio Ciudadano Europeo". El Confidencial Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-01.
85. "ICV propone elevar una queja a la Eurocámara por premiar a Societat Civil". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-01.

• Organisations based in Catalonia