Banned, the banner hanging in recent weeks from Barcelona City Hall calling for the Release [of] political prisoners. Banned, the yellow ribbon loops for the same campaign which polling station workers could theoretically wear on election day for being a partisan symbol. A request from Cs (Citizens) and PP (Popular Party) to ban the yellow lights illuminating fountains for not respecting electoral neutrality. Banned, Catalan public media from calling Carles Puigdemont "president" but not, however, his predecessors, as has always been done, starting with the lifelong addressing of Josep Tarradellas as president. Also banned, public media calling the members of the Catalan government in Estremera and Alcalá Meco prisons "ministers in prison". Wouldn't it be easier to give a list of what is allowed instead of everything which is banned?
Surely so, if applicable. But it's clear that the Spanish state exercises power over everything through bans. Otherwise, this accumulation of vetos which on occasion are a touch ludicrous is incomprehensible. Blimey, the topic of the fountains sounds almost like a farce! I seriously doubt that anyone can seriously think that the subliminal message of some yellow lights in some fountains can end up influencing the election result and determining it. Is it a message of support to the members of the Catalan government and the two Jordis in prison? Well, obviously. Like the demonstrations that take place by the dozen every day in Catalan towns and villages and which are no longer widely reported by the media because they're so frequent.
But all clues suggest that the colour yellow is going to cause a lot of debate in the coming weeks. If these measures are adopted over a loop of ribbon or some lights in a fountain, what are they not going to able to do with those who wear a t-shirt, a shirt, a blazer, a tie, a scarf, a jacket, a jumper, trousers or a pair of earrings. Or who carry a handbag or purse. I already see pro-union candidates planning all sorts of legal problems based on the colour used by their opponents. The most curious factor is that the doctrine about ribbons and colours seems to adapt to the taste of the consumer. The newspaper archives record that Íñigo Errejón and Alberto Garzón, of Unidos Podemos (Together We Can), in the candidates debate on Spanish public TV for the December 2015 general election, wore orange ribbon loops in defence of public television and against news manipulation. Nobody protested or nobody paid attention. But of course, the political prisoners, those who they say aren't although ten people remain in unjust preventive detention because the National Audience court, which didn't have jurisdiction, wanted it so, do more damage. Much more damage.