Politicians from a wide spectrum of groups admitted their “shock” after seeing the scenes of brutality of the Guardia Civil and national police as they tried to prevent the referendum on independence for Catalonia, a north east region in Spain.
The country’s security forces attempted to stop the vote taking place after the central government in Madrid said such a vote was against the constitution and declared it illegal.
In their attempt to prevent the vote taking place the national security forces were seen using batons against unarmed people attempting to vote as well as firing rubber bullets into the assembled crowds.
The Catalan authorities said that nearly 900 people had been injured with 33 police officers also needing medical attention.
During the debate today most members spoke out over the actions of the Spanish police with many calling for “dialogue” to take place and supported previous demands for international mediation.
British Conservative Sir Roger Gale said: “Violence cannot be justified and should be condemned. We should urge calm, peace and dialogue.”
Mr Gale’s views were supported by the Dutch chairman of the Socialist Party (SP) Tiny Kox who said: “We were shocked when we saw the unexpected brutal violence against citizens exercising a fundamental right.”
Belgium’s Green politician also hit out at Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy for what she saw has his “threatening words” towards the Catalan leaders and indicating his willingness to implement Article 155 of the Spanish constitution that would allow the central government to take over the region’s autonomous powers.
Another Belgian, Piet De Bruyn, affiliated to the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) insisted that “political problems can only be solved by political means”.
He said: “Catalonia has asked for mediation, but unfortunately Spain hasn’t.”
Previously the Council of Europe (CoE had issued a warning in regard to Catalonia going ahead with the referendum vote.
The organisation that promotes human rights, European culture and law, and democracy across the continent remains a separate body to the EU.
The message was issued by the Venice Commission, the consultative body for the CoE.
The Venice Commission said the vote “does not meet” the commission’s standards for a fair referendum, as it is not recognised by the Spanish Government or its constitution.
However after actions of the Spanish police the CoE said that it has contacted the Spanish Minister of the Interior seeking “swift, independent and effective” investigations into allegations of disproportionate use of force by the police.
On Monday, the commissioner, Nils Muiznieks, published a letter he wrote to the minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez, on October 4 in which he raised concerns about what unfolded at polling stations around Catalonia on the day of the vote.
Mr Álvarez said in his reply that the police acted in accordance with the recommendations of Spain’s constitutional court and in a “proportionate and appropriate manner.”
He wrote: “Interventions were not aimed at citizens or their ideas, they were intended to prevent the holding of the referendum, the instructions transmitted by the highest court of the national territory.”