The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Catalan leader rejects election to end stand-off
SPAIN: Separatist leader says there is no guarantee which justifies elections
The leader of Spain’s secession-minded Catalonia region says he has decided against calling a parliamentary election that might have defused tension with the Spanish government.
Carles Puigdemont said he considered calling a snap election, but was choosing not to because he did not receive enough guarantees that the central government’s “abusive” moves to take control of Catalonia would be suspended.
In an address from his palace in Barcelona, the separatist leader said the regional parliament will decide how to respond to the takeover plan.
The unprecedented measures are set to be approved today in Madrid and will lead to the first direct intervention by central authorities in the affairs of one of the country’s 17 autonomous regions.
Spain’s conservative government had offered to halt the extraordinary measures if a new election was called in Catalonia, but recently backtracked on that.
Mr Puigdemont said: “Consequently I can’t organise parliamentary elections. There is no guarantee that justifies elections.
He said it is now up to the existing regional parliament to determine how to respond to the Spanish government’s plan to take over significant powers from the region.
Regional legislators convened shortly after he announced his decision on the election.
“Peace and civism must remain. Only this way, we will be able to win,” he said.