Puigdemont fails to clarify Catalan independence confusion
- 7 years ago
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has not given a clear answer on whether he has declared independence for the Spanish region.
Spain’s central government had set a deadline of 10am on Monday for Puigdemont to give a “yes” or “no” answer – and until Thursday to change his mind should the reply be affirmative. Madrid has threatened to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, if independence is declared.
In his letter to Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, Puigdemont offers to meet him as soon as possible to discuss the controversy, reports Reuters, but failed to give a yes or no response on independence.
According to El Pais newspaper which quotes two Catalan radio stations, Puigdemont calls for an end to the “repression” of the Catalan people and their government. His letter is said to include documents including a copy of the breakaway Referendum Law that his minority government rammed through the regional parliament with help from its far-left ally CUP. The move bypassed ordinary parliamentary procedure, prompting an opposition walkout.
The leader of the “Together for Yes” coalition declared independence for Catalonia last week after the region’s disputed and controversial referendum. The vote, declared illegal under the constitution by Spain’s constitutional court, was marred by violence among Spanish police sent to stop it.
But the Catalan leader immediately suspended the independence declaration to allow for talks with Madrid, sparking confusion and the setting of today’s deadline for clarification.
According to Spain’s Justice Minister Rafael Catala as quoted by the news agency EFE, the latest response from the Catalan leader is not valid.
Full text of Puigdemont letter to Spanish PM to follow shortly – see here for more info: https://t.co/WjI2Ibw5nU— El País in English (@elpaisinenglish) October 16, 2017
Spain’s central government had set a deadline of 10am on Monday for Puigdemont to give a “yes” or “no” answer – and until Thursday to change his mind should the reply be affirmative. Madrid has threatened to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, if independence is declared.
In his letter to Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, Puigdemont offers to meet him as soon as possible to discuss the controversy, reports Reuters, but failed to give a yes or no response on independence.
According to El Pais newspaper which quotes two Catalan radio stations, Puigdemont calls for an end to the “repression” of the Catalan people and their government. His letter is said to include documents including a copy of the breakaway Referendum Law that his minority government rammed through the regional parliament with help from its far-left ally CUP. The move bypassed ordinary parliamentary procedure, prompting an opposition walkout.
The leader of the “Together for Yes” coalition declared independence for Catalonia last week after the region’s disputed and controversial referendum. The vote, declared illegal under the constitution by Spain’s constitutional court, was marred by violence among Spanish police sent to stop it.
But the Catalan leader immediately suspended the independence declaration to allow for talks with Madrid, sparking confusion and the setting of today’s deadline for clarification.
According to Spain’s Justice Minister Rafael Catala as quoted by the news agency EFE, the latest response from the Catalan leader is not valid.
Full text of Puigdemont letter to Spanish PM to follow shortly – see here for more info: https://t.co/WjI2Ibw5nU— El País in English (@elpaisinenglish) October 16, 2017