Sputnik: What kind of censorship has been seen by Catalan media platforms since the application of Article 155?
Josep Costa: There was an idea that the central government might take over the control of the Catalan public media. In the end, they did not decide to exclusively take over, and as far as private media is concerned, nothing has changed. The only real thing is this sort of 'extreme control' that government-owned radio and TV are being subject to from the opposition, the pro-Spanish groups that are using the electoral petition to tell people what to do.
They seem to be particularly concerned about the coverage of the former ministers, the government, and the president who were sacked, and forced out of office through article 155. They have been trying to reduce coverage of this in the public media, or at least to change the narrative of that coverage.
Sputnik: They have now banned the words 'President Puigdemont', as he is no longer president. Do you consider this to be censorship?
READ MORE: Four Jailed Ex-Catalan Senior Officials Accept Spanish Rule Via Article 155
Sputnik: What about the petition released asking for the color 'yellow' to be banned from the electoral campaign?
Josep Costa: It’s the electoral commission on a petition by the socialist party, making a decision that the members of the polling stations, those acting in an official capacity in the polling stations should not be allowed to wear the yellow symbols used to demand the release of the political prisoners. Also, they've issued a similar decision on public buildings, or even in monuments, that the yellow color that was symbolic of the campaign of the release of the political prisoners that all of this should be removed. Anything related to the campaign for the release of the prisoners should be banned from public premises, and voting premises, as well as polling stations. It has caused a lot of outrage.
Sputnik: Is there anything that you feel that international media is failing to report on?
READ MORE: Brussels Prosecutor Demands Extradition of Puigdemont to Spain — Reports