THERE’S no sign of an end to the independence stalemate in Catalonia after Spain’s central government said Catalan President Carles Puigdemont had not answered its request to state explicitly if he had declared independence.
Madrid had asked him to respond with a simple yes or no, but Puigdemont, in a letter released two hours before the deadline, sought a period of negotiations and mediation.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government has repeatedly said it will not sit down with Puigdemont if independence or any form of international mediation is on the table. It has also threatened to activate Article 155 of Spain’s constitution, which could see Madrid suspend Catalan self-government.
However, Puigdemont wrote: “The priority of my government is always to seek solutions by way of dialogue. We want to talk, as well-established democracies do, about the problem placed before us by the majority of the Catalan people, who wish to undertake a journey as an independent country within the framework of Europe.
“The suspension of the political mandate resulting from the poll of October 1 demonstrates our firm intention to find the solution rather than generate confrontation.”
Spanish justice minister Rafael Catala said Puigdemont’s letter did not answer the government’s question. And Spain’s deputy prime minister said Catalonia’s leader did not give an adequate response.
Soraya Saenz de Santamaria told reporters that “it wasn’t very difficult” to say yes or no.
“That was the question that was asked and the response shouldn’t be complicated,” she said, adding that Puigdemont had until Thursday morning to fall in line, or face the possibility of Spain activating Article 155.
In his letter, Puigdemont also called on Spanish authorities to halt “all repression” in Catalonia, referring to a police violence during the referendum that left hundreds injured.
He added: “This very Monday two leaders of Catalan civil society, who have been organising the peaceful demonstrations by millions of people since the year 2010, are to appear, charged, in court. Also charged is the chief of the Catalan police (Mossos d’Esquadra), one of the most respected police forces in Europe, which faithfully and rigorously fulfils its duty.”
However, a Spanish judge later said the regional police chief could remain free with restrictions. The National Court judge rejected a prosecutor’s request to jail Major Josep Lluis Trapero, but the judge withdrew Trapero’s passport and said he must remain in Spain.
Threatened action against Trapero had angered many in Catalonia, who see him as a local hero after his force’s handling of the aftermath of the Barcelona terror attacks.
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