A SLAP IN THE FACE FROM CATALONIA..
Pro-independence parties get majority after spanish pm’s snap election
Number of seats in the Catalonian Parliament
How many seats parties backing independence were on course to win
EXILED Catalan President Carles Puigdemont yesterday called for talks with the Spanish prime minister after triumphing in regional elections.
Mariano Rajoy’s gamble of calling the vote blew up in his face when proindependence parties won a slender majority.
In a humiliating blow to the right-wing Prime Minister, his Popular Party came last in the poll, slumping to just three seats.
Mr Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium after being charged with sedition for holding October’s independence referendum, challenged Mr Rajoy to faceto-face talks.
He declared: “The Spanish state has been defeated. Mariano Rajoy has received a slap in the face from Catalonia. Either Rajoy changes his recipe or we change the country.
“Catalonia wants to be an independent state. This is the wish of the Catalan people.
“I think the plan of Mariano Rajoy is not working, so we have to find new ways to tackle this crisis.”
Mr Puigdemont said he was willing to meet the Prime Minister anywhere in Europe other than Spain.
Mr Rajoy had hoped the snap elections in Catalonia would resolve the crisis by delivering a majority for the unionist parties. The pro-unionist Citizens’ Party emerged as the largest party winning 37 seats in the 135-strong Catalan chamber.
But the three proindependence parties Together For Catalonia, Republican Left of Catalonia and Popular Unity were on course to take the 70 seats needed for a majority.
Mr Rajoy now faces a decision of whether to continue the suspension of the Catalan Parliament or accept the result and see the pro-independence parties resuming government.
Either Rajoy changes his recipe or we change the country
CARLES PUIGDEMONT
BELGIUM YESTERDAY