Catalonia given final deadline

SPAIN is on the verge of imposing direct rule on Catalonia after the region’s president refused to confirm whether he has declared independence.

Carles Puigdemont was given a deadline of 10am yesterday to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ after he declared independence last Tuesday before immediately halting its implementation for talks with Spain.

Instead of a one-word answer, he sent Spain’s prime minister Mariano Rajoy a two-page letter fudging the issue.

Madrid has now given a second deadline – Thursday morning – after which it may impose direct rule.

It follows police violence during a disputed referendum on October 1 and came as Spain’s High Court ordered two separatist leaders – Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart – to be remanded in custody on suspicion of sedition last night.

Spain’s deputy PM Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said yesterday: ‘It wasn’t very difficult to say “yes” or “no”. All we were and are asking him for is clarity.’