The trial against Catalan separatists begins

the judicial process is closely linked to an increasingly explosive political crisis, which is blocking all the paths forward for the socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez. There is much to suggest that he had already decided to call the parliamentary elections in the spring, and bring them together with the EU - and kommunvalen on 26 may.

in Madrid on Sunday demanded nationalistpartierna PP, Ciudadanos and the Vox that the government stop negotiating with the Catalan självständighetspartierna and announces the new elections. Pedro Sánchez, who came to power in the summer as a direct result of the crisis, cut off on Saturday its ”dialogue” with separatistregeringen in Barcelona. He stated as the reason that the catalans persist to discuss independence.

But what really scared him was the protests from the socialist party, PSOE. Former prime minister Felipe González and his drabant Alfonso Guerra, the PSOE's historical leaders, have both moved away from the Sánchez ”vänslande” with the Catalan government Quim Dry, which is merely a tool for the exiled leader Carles Puigdemont. From his exile in Brussels requires Puigdemont to Dry takes up the independence during all contacts with Madrid.

Thousands of demonstrators in Madrid lifted on Sunday, the Spanish flags and demanded prime minister Pedro Sanchez's departure. Photo: Andrea Comas

Sánchez has good reason to negotiate, because his budget presented this week, can't be adopted by the congress in Madrid without according support. Rejection of the budget means not – as in many democracies, the government's case. In order to trap the government needs the opposition to be able to present an alternative coalition. But it can't, because Catalan and basque nationalistpartier have a position in the Madrid parliament. They do not want to help spansknationalisterna to power.

growing skepticism towards its young leaders have the down-to-earth reasons. On the hundreds of large and small communities, preparing local socialists before kommunvalen in may. They are traumatized by the decembervalet in Andalusia, Spain's largest region. The socialists had never lost an election there, but now the controls on the right. The Catalan issue, and the accusations against Sánchez for ”vekhet against the catalans gave the nationalists the wind in the back in Andalusia. Spanish socialists are almost as inflexible as the right wing in Catalonia and the PSOE's mayors fear that they will pay a high price for Sánchez ”spoon-feeding” with the Catalan secessionists.

The Catalan separatists realize that they are putting Sánchez in an impossible predicament, with its mechanically repeated demands for autonomy. They realize that they are pushing him towards early elections and that the outcome is likely to be a högerkoalition whose parties will compete to punish and isolate the separatists and may suspend Catalan self-government. But it is not in any separatistledares power sacrificing självständighetskravet. Puigdemonts ”Crida” – the party has just renamed the new – and the older the ERC are competing for the two million separatiströster, and the floats on the objective of a free Catalonia will come to know of it.

the Trial, in the Supreme Court of the 1700-talslokaler of red velvet, gilded takreliefer and fabulous crystal chandeliers, will be an emotional affair. The defendants will not only refuse, they will question Spain's right to examine them. The Spanish HD-the judges are generally at least as critical to the Catalan separatism that right-wing politicians, and it would surprise if the accused escapes the long sentences.

Germany and Switzerland, has rejected Spain's definition of separatistledarna as ”insurgents”, and the catalans are hopeful that the convictions will encounter resistance from the european människorättstribunalen in Strasbourg.

But any external criticism will be of little consolation for the Catalan nationalists. Their big dream of a european intervention in the conflict was shattered in October 2017. The only independence they can look forward to is the one they themselves bring about.

Read more: Catalan separatistledaren: Accusing those who asked me for the correct