Romanian-born journalist Marcela Topor, the wife of Catalonia President Carles Puigdemont, has been recently featured by Spanish media as “independence queen.”

Spanish daily La Razon ran an article in its online edition, prior to the October 1 referendum, on the wives of Carles Puigdemont and of Vice President Oriol Junqueras calling them both “the queens of independence.” The feature notes that they have kept a low profile but are supporting their husbands in the cause for Catalonia’s independence.

Topor, who works for the English-language magazine and website Catalonia Today, had declared that she sees Spain and Catalonia as two different entities. When asked, in a previous interview, about the prospect of her husband being jailed for pushing ahead with the Catalonia independence process, she said she was not thinking of this version. “I would rather look at the full half of the glass. We are ready for anything. I will adapt to any situation, as I have done this far, and will respect Carles’ decisions,” she said, quoted by La Razon.

Spain’s general attorney, José Manuel Maza, said, at the end of September, that Puigdemont could face action for “disobedience, breaching public duties and misuse of public funds” after going ahead with a referendum suspended by the country’s Constitutional Court and deemed illegal under the Spanish Constitution.

In a response on the October 1 referendum and the events accompanying it, the European Commission maintained that the vote in the referendum was not legal and that it was a domestic matter for Spain “that has to be dealt with in line with the constitutional order of Spain.” In the event of a referendum organized in accordance with the Spanish Constitution, the departing region would find itself outside of the European Union, the Commission said.

The Commission also called for a dialogue between the central government in Madrid and the regional government of Catalonia. “We call on all relevant players to now move very swiftly from confrontation to dialogue. Violence can never be an instrument in politics.” It also expressed trust for "the leadership of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to manage this difficult process."

Puigdemont asked for mediation from the European Commission after the Police crackdown on the referendum, arguing “it cannot look the other way any longer,” The Guardian reported.

Almost 900 people and 33 police officers were reported hurt on Sunday, October 1, after the Spanish Police and Civil Guard entered polling stations to confiscate voting bulletins and prevent the voting from taking place. They dragged out voters and fired rubber bullets into the crowds.

A general strike is held today, October 3, in Catalonia in protest over the referendum violence.

The Catalan government said 2.26 million people came to vote, or just over 42% of the electorate, and 90% of them voted for the region to become independent.

Romanian journalist becomes first lady of Catalonia

editor@romania-insider.com