Catalan split put on hold

Puigdemont steps back from declaring independence to allow more time for talks

CATALAN leader Carles Puigdemont last night accepted “the mandate of the people” for his region’s independence from Spain but suspended the declaration, to allow more time for talks with Madrid.

In a speech to regional politicians in Barcelona, Puigdemont stopped short of declaring an outright split but left the door to secession open, leaving some rivals scratching their heads.

“I assume the mandate of the people for Catalonia to become an independent republic,” he said.

But the 54-year-old asked the Catalan parliament to “suspend the effects of the independence declaration to initiate dialogue in the coming weeks”.

The central government fired back, with a spokesman rejecting what Madrid termed Catalonia’s tacit independence declaration.

Political leaders in Catalonia, Spain and Europe have come out against an independence declaration, concerned over the country’s biggest upheaval since its transition to democracy in the 1970s.

European Union nations are watching developments closely amid concern that Catalan independence could put further pressure on the bloc still dealing with the fallout from Brexit.

Police deployed en masse around the regional parliament, blocking public access to a park that houses the building as crowds watched the session on giant screens, waving Catalan flags and with some brandishing signs reading “democracy”.

Reaction among those who had hoped to witness a historic moment for a region deeply divided over independence was mixed.

“In essence we’re happy but I was expecting more,” Pere Valldeneu, 66, said.

Architect Merce Hernandez, 35, said: “I am very emotional, this is a historic day. I’m satisfied.”

Madrid has said it would not negotiate on Catalonia’s independence.

“We call on Puigdemont not to do anything irreversible, not to pursue a path of no return and not to make any unilateral independence declaration,” govern- ment spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said earlier.

A source from the central government’s representative office in Catalonia said security had been tightened at Catalan airports and railway stations in anticipation of protests at Puigdemont’s possible independence announcement.

The region of 7.5 million people, one of Spain’s economic powerhouses, is deeply divided over the independence issue.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has vowed to use everything in his power to prevent independence and has refused to rule out imposing direct rule over the semi-autonomous region.

EU president Donald Tusk also urged Puigdemont against making a decision that would make dialogue impossible.

But the Catalan president said the independence referendum that took place on October 1 despite a court ban – and saw a violent police crackdown – justified splitting from Madrid.

Spain’s stock market shed nearly 1.0% ahead of yesterday’s session, and a string of companies have already moved their legal headquarters from Catalonia to other parts of the country. – AFP

We call on Puigdemont not to . . . pursue a path of no return