Spain ‘sorry’ for hurting Catalan protesters
BARCELONA: Spain apologised yesterday for a violent crackdown on Catalonia’s independence referendum, in a conciliatory gesture as both sides looked for a way out of the nation’s worst political crisis since it became a democracy four decades ago.
Spain’s representative in northeast Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of the national economy, made the apology just as Catalonia’s secessionist leader appeared to inch away from a plan to declare independence as early as Monday.
“When I see these images, and more so when I know people have been hit, pushed and even one person who was hospitalised, I can’t help but regret it and apologise on behalf of the officers that intervened,” Enric Millo said in a television interview.
Spanish police used batons and rubber bullets to stop people voting in Sunday’s referendum, which Madrid had banned.
The scenes brought worldwide condemnation and fanned separatist feeling, but failed to prevent what the Catalan government described as an overwhelming “yes” vote.
Moments earlier, a Catalan Parliament spokesman said regional government leader Carles Puigdemont had asked to address lawmakers on Tuesday, in timing that appeared at odds with earlier plans to move an independence motion on Monday.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had offered all-party political talks to find a solution, opening the door to a deal giving Catalonia more autonomy. But he ruled out independence and rejected a Catalan proposal for international mediation.
Spanish ruling-party lawmakers said Rajoy was considering invoking the constitution to dissolve the regional Parliament and force fresh Catalan elections if the regional government went ahead with an independence declaration. Reuters