A GIANT lit-up reindeer in the Barcelona-province town of Viladecans programmed to wish everyone felices fiestas ('Happy holidays') has been 'hacked' and now gives out 'patriotic' anti-independence messages.
Video footage of the Catalunya pro-Spain reindeer has gone viral on social media – and the 'hacker' has made no attempt to hide his identity.
The huge illuminated Rudolph how shouts, “Spain is free, Spain is great!”, “¡Viva España!”, and “Long live Spain and Philippine people! Will you give me an iPhone for Christmas?”
Author Antonio has changed his Twitter username to 'Antonio I Haven't Hacked Anything It's Been Like That For Days' and captioned the video with, “I've hacked a Christmas statue in my town and I'm playing little games with him.”
The subtitles on the video read: “Do you like the new Christmas carols the Viladecans statue sings? I'm updating his repertoire.”
It shows passersby jumping out of their skin when they hear the reindeer 'speak' – especially when he shouted to a 'little girl with an umbrella' walking past and urging her to 'come closer'.
“He's become patriotic,” Antonio writes on Twitter.
Catalunya's independence bid has caused huge political division among the public – the Spanish Constitution bans any action which could 'threaten the unity of Spain', as a referendum on secession is interpreted to be – meaning those politicians who organised the disputed vote on October 1, 2017 are either in exile or in jail, with sentences ranging from nine to 13 years hanging over their heads.
Of the 42% of the population in the region, and its natives residing outside it, who voted, 99% opted for independence, but most of those who did not vote said the referendum was illegal and they did not support it, meaning the desire to become a separate country is not necessarily a majority, but could be between a third and a half of the region.
High-profile catalanes who voted included FC Barcelona's Gerard Piqué – husband of Colombian pop-rocker Shakira – but he does not appear to agree with the idea of secession.
Many are anti-independence, but believe the people should at least be allowed to vote in a non-binding referendum, and others who do not agree with either believe having organised this should not be considered a criminal offence and that the politicians in prison should be released.
Others consider the entire referendum attempt was a case of high treason and a betrayal of Spain and those behind it should be punished.
This feeling is strongest among those who vote for right-wing, conservative, centre-right or far-right parties.
The 'reindeer hacker' is clearly one of those who does not support Catalunya's becoming a separate country.
