King of Spain in unity plea to Catalonia

THE Spanish king has urged Catalonia’s parliament to reject further moves towards secession from Spain.

‘The way forward cannot once again lead to confrontation or exclusion that only generates discord, uncertainty, anguish,’ Felipe VI said on Christmas Eve.

His comments came four days after regional parliamentary elections resulted in separatist parties being voted back into power.

Spain’s prime minister had dissolved the previous parliament after it voted in October to declare Catalonia an independent republic.