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MADRID HAS GIVEN Catalonia’s separatist leader three more days to “return to legality” after he refused to say whether he would follow through on a threat to declare independence from Spain.
Responding to an initial deadline set by the central government, Carles Puigdemont sent a letter early today calling for talks with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy “as soon as possible” amid Spain’s worst political crisis in decades.
But he stopped short of giving a definitive “yes or no” as demanded by Madrid after his ambiguous independence speech last week, and Spain gave him until Thursday morning to clarify.
Anything less than a full climb-down by Thursday’s 10:00 am (9am Irish time) deadline is likely to prompt moves by Madrid to impose direct control over the semi-autonomous region.
“The government regrets that the president of the Catalan government has decided not to respond to the request made by the government,” Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria told a news conference.
All we are asking for is clarity.
In today’s letter addressed to the premier, Puigdemont wrote: “For the next two months, our main objective is to bring you to dialogue.”
In a written response, Rajoy said it was “absolutely necessary” that Catalonia clarify its position.
“I hope that in the hours that remain until the second deadline… you reply with all the clarity which citizens demand and the law requires,” Rajoy said, calling on the Catalan separatists to “return to legality”.
European Union officials are keeping a close eye on developments amid fears that Catalan independence could put further strain on the bloc as it grapples with Britain’s shock decision to leave.
‘Growing repression’
Puigdemont had told regional lawmakers last week he was ready for Catalonia to “become an independent state” following a secession referendum on 1 October that went ahead despite a court ban.
But he immediately said he was suspending proceedings to allow time for negotiations with Madrid.
Puigdemont and some separatist allies want mediation with Madrid over the fate of the 7.5 million-strong region, an idea the central government says is a non-starter.
In his letter, he wrote that his “suspension of the political mandate given by the polls on 1 October demonstrates our firm will to find a solution and not confrontation”.
“Our desire for dialogue is sincere, despite all that has happened,” he added.
Rock and a hard place
Catalonia, an economic heavyweight that accounts for a fifth of Spain’s economy, has its own language and distinct culture but is deeply divided over independence.
Separatists argue the prosperous region is helping to prop Spain up, saying it pays more in taxes than it gets back and that a break from the rest of the country would allow it to prosper.
But the region itself is profoundly split on independence. Although separatists say 90% of people who voted on 1 October backed secession from Spain, turnout was just 43% as many unity supporters stayed home.
The Spanish government says growing uncertainty over Catalonia, which is deeply indebted to Madrid and which cannot borrow internationally, imperils Spain’s recovery from the financial crisis.
The two biggest Catalan banks have already moved their legal headquarters to other parts of Spain, while ratings agency Standard and Poor’s has warned of a recession in the region if the crisis drags on.
Puigdemont, a 54-year-old former journalist and father of two, is under intense pressure from Madrid and world leaders to back off.
But he is also being squeezed by his separatist allies to crack on with independence.
Rajoy said he is ready to invoke article 155 of Spain’s constitution, allowing him to retake full control of Catalonia – the so-called “nuclear option”.
And Puigdemont’s separatist allies have threatened mass strikes and protests in the event of a climb-down.
Adding to tensions is the expected appearance in court in Madrid of Catalan police chief Josep Lluis Trapero.
He is to be questioned on accusations of sedition for his handling of pro-independence protests and for allegedly failing to stop the 1 October vote.
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Nuclear option. Lovely terminology that. It won’t antagonise the situation at all.
@Tweed Cap: No doubt Puigdemont is hoping an imposition of direct rule will allow him to shriek “You see? They wanted this all along!”
The EU pulling the strings for its own survival, crushing democracy.
@@mdmak33: that farce of a poll was democracy? Seriously? I don’t have a strong view on their independence bid but to even suggest that a poll declared illegal in a Catalan court is a basis for independence is mad. It is a good basis for civil war though perhaps
@Blarneykite: so you think that poll was free and fair? Eoin O’B was a cheerleader from reading his tweets.
It appears the “referendum” will have the opposite effect of what it set out to achieve by giving direct rule back to Madrid after 40 years of self governance.
@Brendan Brady: Thank you. Dear all, I am a Spanish living in Ireland and I am horrified to see how some Irish people even compare this to the independence of Ireland form the UK. I am suffering for my country from the distance like no other. Catalonia is not repressed at all in Spain. If you have traveled there, you can see it! They speak their language, teach their language and have one of the most autonomic governments in the world. No country has in its laws that a part of it can separate, nor international laws consider this unless it is a colony. The referendum was ilegal, and claiming that this referendum leads to a legal declaration of independence is completely wrong. Maybe 1.5 or 2 Million catalans believe the lies the independentists have told them, but the other 5.5 Million don’t (Catalonia has 7.5 Million population). Spanish history is very complex to sum up here, but I will just say that Catalonia is rich because we all made it rich. Because Spanish people had to buy their fabrics when they were expensive, and their grapes when they had surplus. The Central Government have historically invested more in their industry, because they have a strategic location, and they are obviously good entrepreneurs. So, please do not say that they deserve to be independent, because it is not true. And sadly, they are teaching their children wrong historical data for them to hate Spain, please do not contribute to this madness.
@Amélie Orange: Obviously you are not from Catalonia. You say they do not deserve to be independent. If the government in Madrid had allowed the referendum to take place it would most likely have been defeated. However by sending in their civil guard thugs to attack voters it has increased the support of Catalonians who are looking to separate from the rest of Spain. As for teaching their children wrong historical data did the actions of the fascist Franco in the past not happen. What will be taught in the future to children in Spain about when the government in Madrid ordered the beating of their own citizens who wanted to vote in 2017. A government suppressing citizens is exactly what was done in Ireland and eventually we won our independence.
@David Nihill: shut up David it’s none of your business!
@Amélie Orange: apologies for the idiots on here Amélie, they know nothing and continue to try and compared this to the north here and independence from the UK. But I bet you one thing the same idiots complaining will still travel to España for their annual holidays the hypocrites!
“I will resign as long as I can keep my old job” – Puigdemont
Article 155 that will vanish him for ever……. good riddance!
Puig-demented would be more accurate. If he genuinely thinks that referendum was free and fair (and his SF cheerleaders agree I assume). There is history of course but to declare on that farce is ridiculous at best. Ball in his court now
Art. 155 is on its way…. to restore democracy in Catalonia.
@La Massa: To be enforced by jack booted thugs. Strange democracy. Franco would be proud.
I see that those working from the basement of the Spanish embassy are in full swing and high on cocaine
@Marc Esteve: Whereas it would appear Ophelia has temporarily distracted the shinnerbots from their usual braying of ‘Visca Catalunya’
Una cultura, un pueblo, un historia, un idioma, FREE CATALUNYA
@Rodrigo Guruchaga: Yes! Free Catalonia from the crush hold placed on it by its separatist leaders!
Puig-demented would be more accurate. If he genuinely thinks that referendum was free and fair (and his SF cheerleaders agree I assume). There is history of course but to declare on that farce is ridiculous at best. Ball in his court now
What a huge F up that has been
@Carlota Moltau: a pretty clear explanation.
I only should add that voting in referendum for break away a portion of Spain’s territory ( independence ) it’s a matter that concerns the whole spanish people to vote, not only people living in Cataluña.
@Carlota Moltau: a pretty clear explanation.
I only should add that voting in referendum for break away a portion of Spain’s territory ( independence) it’s a matter that concerns the whole spanish people to vote, not only people living in Cataluña.
have your say