Ousted Catalan leaders have no role, says Rajoy

The Spanish prime minister has ruled out negotiating the future status of Catalonia with the leaders who unlawfully declared independence.

Mariano Rajoy described Carles Puigdemont, the ousted president, and his former colleagues as “politically off limits”. Mr Rajoy said the region’s deposed government – eight of whom are in custody while Mr Puigdemont and four others await an extradition hearing from Belgium – should not return to representative political roles.