ELECTIONS which may be held in Catalonia in the coming months after the government’s president was removed from office could be made into a “plebiscite on independence”.
Quim Torra was removed from his post yesterday by the Spanish supreme court after refusing to stop hanging pro-independence ribbons in his office.
Torra gave a speech after his removal in which he said: “Something that characterizes us pro-independence activists is that we are never afraid of voting. We don’t mind counting votes as many times as necessary.
READ MORE: Ronnie Cowan MP: Quim Torra's ban will only endanger talks on Catalan independence
“We want our citizens to always be able to express themselves. We want to achieve our independence, we want to exercise self-determination, but above all we want a democracy of the highest standards for our country.
“We will have the opportunity to further move in this direction in the upcoming elections, which will be held in the next few months. These need to be a turning point.
“There must be a new plebiscite and a new mandate to confirm the October 1st [2017] referendum.”
Speaking to the National, Douglas Chapman MP, who met with Torra in 2018, the year he became the Catalan president, affirmed the deposed politician’s position.
The SNP MP said the supreme court’s actions had thrown Catalonia into “further turmoil”, adding: “It's likely that new elections will be held in the next few months.The vote could be turned into plebiscite on independence.
READ MORE: IN FULL: Quim Torra speech on independence after being removed by Spanish courts
"The case against Mr Torra is centred on his refusal last year to take down yellow ribbons and other signs displaying solidarity with the separatist movement.
“Though in defiance of an order by the electoral commission in Madrid, flying a banner is hardly a hanging offence and withdrawing the legitimacy of an elected politician appears to be a serious over-reaction on the part of the Spanish authorities.
"The European Court of Justice could now be the only place where Catalan pro-independence activists, as well as the just and legitimate cause for independence, can find justice.
“What is clear is that something has got to give, especially if the independence movement wins the next election."
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