Spanish PM rejects offer of talks with Catalonia

SPAIN’S prime minister has refused offers of mediation with Catalonia’s secessionist leaders, who he said wanted to impose independence “that few want and is good for nobody”.

Mariano Rajoy was addressing parliament a day after Catalan officials, including regional president Carles Puigdemont, signed what they called a declaration of independence from Spain.

Mr Rajoy has described the crisis as “one of the most difficult times in our recent history”.

He said Catalan authorities broke the law by holding the October 1 referendum and incited street protests to give an appearance of legitimacy to the vote.

He also said nobody should be proud of Catalonia’s referendum or the image it gave, and that not a single country supports the wealthy region’s push for secession.

Earlier the prime minister had demanded clarity from Mr Puigdemont over Tuesday’s declaration of independence, which came with the suggestion that the implementation should be delayed pending talks.

Mr Rajoy, who had earlier hinted he might invoke Article 155 of the nation’s constitution concerning regional autonomy, was unequivocal in his rejection of mediation.

While saying he was thankful for the conciliatory approaches, the prime minister insisted: “There is no possible mediation between democratic law and disobedience and unlawfulness.”

Mr Rajoy finished his address to parliament on Wednesday by calling for all Spaniards to “put an end to this division and to do it with serenity, prudence and the final goal of recovering coexistence”.