Rajoy appeals to ‘silent majority’ of Catalonians

Spain’s prime minister yesterday urged Catalans to “reclaim Catalonia from the havoc of separatism” and vote against pro-independence parties as he made his first visit to the region since declaring direct rule.

Presenting Xavier Garcia Albiol, his Popular Party’s (PP) candidate for the Catalonian presidency, Mr Rajoy appealed to the region’s “silent majority” who favour union with Spain to “vote massively to launch a new political era” in elections on Dec 21, in response to the unsanctioned independence referendum on Oct 1.