The most politicized Mobile begins

Despite the organizers' warnings to take the technology fair to another city if the climate of instability continues, pro-independence groups place placards and plant the King at the inaugural dinner

    All eyes are on Barcelona and, for the first time in months, it is not for a political reason. The most important mobility fair in the world, the Mobile World Congress, has given its kick-off on Monday in its thirteenth edition in Barcelona . This Sunday the great technological firms are already beginning to teach their letters to the media, although this year with more measured presentations than on other occasions.

But not everything is technology in this global event. After rumors about the possible displacement of MWC to another location after the illegal referendum of October 1 last week the CEO of the company organizing the Mobile (GSMA), John Hoffman, launched a strong message at a press conference: no an environment of stability, the door is open to leave Barcelona . The commitment to the Catalan capital is until 2023 per contract, but is subject to a "security" environment.


     However, the warning does not seem to have penetrated the independence sector that has seen in the event a golden opportunity to internationalize the conflict. The most striking feature was the installation of a 28 x 10 meter banner in the Plaza de Cataluña with the slogan 'Free Political Prisoners', alluding to the incarcerated Junqueras, Forn and Jordis.

And to encourage more the environment, this Sunday comes to Barcelona King Felipe VI on his first visit since the demonstration for the attacks last August. In the edition of last year, the Monarch coincided with the then president of the Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont, now fled in Brussels. On this occasion the attendance of the president of the Parlament, Roger Torrent is expected, but the mayor Ada Colau rejected the invitation on Saturdayfor "institutional responsibility before the thousands of people who suffered police charges" on 1-O. In addition, two independent leaders have already announced that they will not attend the opening ceremony with the King either. Both the Secretary of Information Technologies of the Generalitat, Jordi Puigneró, and the president of the ERC group in the City Hall, Alfred Bosch, have appealed to the "protest" for the speech of Felipe VI after the referendum.

For its part, the Òmnium Cultural independence organization has called a protest in the presence of the King in Barcelona and claim to blow the horns of cars and go out to the balcony with pots at the scheduled time of arrival at the event, about 21 hours this Sunday.