Despite media reports that Spain might’ve been willing to suspend its attempted takeover of Catalonia in return for free elections, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont says he will not do so, saying he was unable to get specific guarantees regarding that effort.
Puigdemont instead says he will send the question of whether or not to declare independence from Spain to the regional parliament soon. Spain is attempting to preempt such a move by rushing an “emergency” takeover of Catalonia.
On October 1, Catalonia voted overwhelmingly in favor of seceding from Spain. Spanish police tried to stop the vote, wounding nearly 900 people and fueling outrage among locals. Puigdemont has signed a declaration of independence, but suspended it, pending negotiations wwith Spain.
The problem is that Spain is refusing to talk, and is instead threatening to remove the Catalan government to try to ensure their continued rule over the region. This may ultimately oblige the Catalan parliament, where are majority are pro-secession, to declare independence in the absence of talks.
Jason: I live in Spain and need to add a couple of corrections to your story. The “referendum” was a chaotic mess unworthy of a boys club. Only independentists voted. Second, Madrid IS willing to talk, is in fact begging for negotiations, but not about independence, and not in a state-to-state format. My latest take:
CATALONIA: NOT EXACTLY A HANCOCK-JEFFERSON MOMENT
Jefferson-Hancock the moment was not,
When the prez of Catalonia turned on a dot,
And put independ’ on indefinite hold,
The one just declared with a flourish quite bold,
Which turned out to be but a total lame yawner,
And far from “our lives and our sacred honor.”
So cheesy it was that Madrid had to ask,
Did you guys declare or just pass ’round a flask?
For a week the prez has answered a mumble,
His allies all huffy, his support all a-crumble,
But he knows he’s looking at serious hard time,
Some ten to twenty on hard beds for his mime.
So the cry has gone up from every Cat station:
“It’s dialog we need, ’tween nation and nation!”
And Madrid replies, “Of dialog we’re able,
But independence, champ, that ain’t on the table.”
So now these Cat pols find themselves in a fix,
Looking at failure and a wall full of sticks.
They’re also looking at Madrid taking charge,
And in local gov’ment and admin’ to barge,
Though sore’ reluctant to go through with it all,
And whack the protesters who look for a brawl,
And look bad on TV and put up with the taints,
While the separatists end up looking like saints.
The irony here is the same folks long-haired,
Raised hell against Franco, about democ’ cared,
And now a Franco of their own must commit,
The difference being that now Spaniards see fit
To fly flags from windows, a sight seen but twice:
When Spain won The Cup and this crisis cut-price.