Catalan leader calls for talks with Spain’s new premier
SANCHEZ, WHO IN THE PAST CRITICISED THE SECESSION BID, HAS PROMISED TO ‘BUILD BRIDGES’
Quim Torra as been under pressure from some segments of his own separatist camp to adopt a more conciliatory stance, in order to allow a new Catalan government to take office and end Madrid’s direct rule.
Catalonia’s separatist president Quim Torra yesterday called for talks with Spain’s new prime minister as the Catalan regional executive was sworn in at an emotional ceremony full of pro-independence symbolism.
The swearing-in will automatically bring an end to Madrid’s direct rule over the wealthy, north-eastern region imposed in October after a failed bid to break from Spain.
“Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, let’s talk, let’s address this issue, let’s take risks, you and us,” Torra said, just minutes after Sanchez himself was sworn in Madrid.
Sanchez takes office after ousting veteran conservative leader Mariano Rajoy from power in a no-confidence vote on Friday.
“We need to sit down at the same table and negotiate, government to government,” Torra said. “This situation we’re going through cannot go on for even one more day.”
Sanchez, a 46-year-old economist who as opposition leader was sharply critical of Catalonia’s secession bid, has promised to try to “build bridges” with the region’s new government which is still determined to work towards independence.
Torra’s call for talks came as his hand-picked 13 councillors took oath in the regional presidency in Barcelona — some of them wearing yellow, the colour that has come to symbolise the separatist cause.
An empty chair with a yellow ribbon stood in the chamber to represent Catalan separatists who are in jail over their role in last autumn’s independence push and those like ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont who fled abroad.
Letters were read out by loved ones of those affected, during a ceremony that saw several onlookers break down in tears.
The swearing-in ends months of political limbo in the north-eastern region after the independence bid last October caused Spain’s biggest political crisis in decades.
Under the terms of emergency legislation brought in to take over the Catalan administration, Madrid must lift direct rule once a Catalan government is fully formed and cabinet members are sworn in.
Spain’s central government last month recognised the powers of newly-elected Catalan president Torra but refused to ratify his first choice of councillors because four of them face charges linked to the failed independence drive. The Spanish government called their nomination “a new provocation”.
Earlier this week, Torra nominated a new administration which did not include them, prompting Madrid to give its green light.
The 55-year-old former editor has been under pressure from some segments of his own separatist camp to adopt a more conciliatory stance, in order to allow a new Catalan government to take office and end Madrid’s direct rule.
Torra was chosen by Puigdemont to be Catalonia’s next leader after separatist parties kept their absolute majority in regional elections in December.