Socialists call on government for full explanation of Russian interference in Catalonia

The main opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) has called on the deputy prime minister, Soraya S¨¢enz de Santamar¨ªa, to appear in the parliamentary commission of official secrets to offer a full explanation of interference by other countries in the Catalan independence drive. ¡°We want to be informed of all possible foreign interference in Catalonia, if it existed and what actions have been taken from the government and the CNI [Spanish secret service] to clarify it,¡± said on Thursday Margarita Robles, the spokesperson of the Socialist group in Congress.

The foreign activity could have had a ¡°significant effect¡± on the political situation in Catalonia, Robles added, in reference to the activity that has been detected from Russian territory, which has included the spread of ¡°fake news¡± and exaggerated stories.

We want to be informed of all possible foreign interference in Catalonia Margarita Robles, the spokesperson of the Socialist group

¡°The fact that the risk exists ¨C as we have been informed fundamentally via media outlets ¨C of this possible foreign interference requires for us to be informed,¡± Robles continued. The Socialist group has chosen the Reserved Expenses commission (commonly known as ¡°official secrets¡±) given that it is, in Robles¡¯ words, the appropriate ¡°framework of seriousness and rigor¡± for the deputy prime minister ¨C who is responsible for the CNI ¨C to supply ¡°all of the information that the government has and what it has done to avoid this interference,¡± Robles said. ¡°Our understanding is that this is not a question of government, but of state,¡± she added.

The Spanish government confirmed last Friday that there had been foreign intervention via social networks aimed at benefiting the pro-independence narrative. ¡°This is a serious issue, where democracy has to face up to the challenge of new technologies,¡± Popular Party (PP) government spokesperson ??igo M¨¦ndez de Vigo said. ¡°The [Spanish] government has confirmed that a lot of the messages and interventions that have come via social networks are from Russian territory,¡± said last week Mar¨ªa Dolores de Cospedal, the defense minister. ¡°That is not to say necessarily that they are from the Russian government.¡±

This is a serious issue, where democracy has to face up to the challenge of new technologies ??igo M¨¦ndez de Vigo, PP spokesperson

The issue is also on the radar of the European Union and the US State Department. ¡°We are, of course, very concerned about the allegations of Russian interference in events in Spain,¡± an American spokesperson said.

The controversy has already prompted a response from Russia, which has demanded ¡°concrete facts.¡± Maria Zajarova, the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, has called on the Spanish government to provide evidence of interference. ¡°Russia deeply regrets that the wave of anti-Russian campaigns that have been unleashed in Western media have been elevated by Madrid to an official level in the context of the Catalan crisis,¡± she said. Zajarova also warned that the accusations could damage bilateral relationships.

English version by Simon Hunter.