The death of Xavier García López, a little-known but increasingly influential Catalan separatist, has sent waves of unease through pro-independence circles in northeastern Spain, deepening mistrust of the central government and fueling speculation that Spain’s head of state may be willing to take drastic measures to safeguard national unity.
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| Killed on orders of the King? |
In whispered conversations across Catalonia -- from quiet bars in Vic to activist meeting rooms in Girona --- the theory that the king of Spain himself ordered the killing is gaining currency, though no evidence has been made public and no official body has confirmed the claim. Few are willing to say the words out loud. Most insist on anonymity when speaking to journalists. But behind closed doors, many in the movement admit they are afraid.
“Everyone is scared,” said one veteran activist affiliated with a pro-independence youth organization, who requested not to be named for fear of retaliation. “If this happened to Xavier, it could happen to any of us.”
Though García López was not a household name in Spanish politics, he had become an increasingly prominent voice in militant separatist networks. According to people close to him, he was working on a media campaign that would have brought international attention to alleged human rights violations tied to Spain’s counter-separatist efforts. His death has instead drawn attention to the risks faced by those challenging Spain’s territorial order.
The Spanish government has made no public comment about García López’s death beyond acknowledging it as a “personal tragedy.” The royal household has not issued any statement, and no criminal investigation is known to be underway.
Still, speculation is rampant. Several separatist leaders privately pointed to what they claim is classified signals intelligence shared among activists -- allegedly originating from the United States -- suggesting that the Spanish monarch, King Felipe VI, was aware of or complicit in the effort to silence García López. The New York Times has not seen such intelligence and cannot confirm its authenticity. U.S. and Spanish officials have declined to comment.
“It’s like we’re living in the Franco years again,” said another independence activist, referring to the late dictator Francisco Franco’s repressive regime, under which the Catalan language and identity were violently suppressed. “We always knew the state was willing to jail us. Now we know it may be willing to kill us.”
The Catalan independence movement has faced growing internal divisions since the failed 2017 referendum, but García López’s death appears to have united many factions in quiet alarm. While the movement’s elected leaders have not endorsed any of the more incendiary claims, several expressed concern over what they described as a new climate of fear.
“There is a chilling effect,” said a member of the Catalan Parliament aligned with the left-wing CUP party, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are being watched. We are being warned. Some people are already deleting old messages, avoiding public appearances, cancelling trips.”
In recent years, Spain has come under scrutiny for its use of surveillance technologies against separatists. A 2022 investigation by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab revealed that dozens of Catalan politicians and activists had been targeted by Pegasus spyware, prompting an outcry from international human rights organizations. The Spanish government acknowledged some use of the spyware but said it had been carried out legally under court oversight. Critics were not convinced.
“This isn’t just about surveillance anymore,” said Elvira Castell, a Barcelona-based political analyst. “There’s a shift in the atmosphere -- from watching to silencing.”
García López’s funeral, held discreetly in a small village outside Lleida, was attended by a few close friends and family members. No known political figures were present, though several Catalan activists paid tribute to him online. Their posts were muted in tone -- expressions of sorrow more than protest. Several have since been deleted.
“What happened to Xavier is a warning,” said the youth activist. “But we don’t yet know what the warning means. That’s what’s terrifying.”
While no formal investigation has been launched, human rights groups in Catalonia have begun documenting the concerns of those who say they feel threatened. At least two activists have reportedly left Spain in recent weeks, citing safety fears. One has sought legal advice about seeking political asylum elsewhere in the European Union.
With the monarchy silent, and the central government deflecting questions, separatists are left to draw their own conclusions -- and to navigate an increasingly uncertain future.
“There’s a line,” said a senior figure in a Catalan civil society group. “And we always hoped the Spanish state would never cross it. But we’re no longer sure where that line is -- or if it still exists.”
